COVID-19 and the Right to Education in Chile: An Opportunity to Revisit Our Social Contract

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Bibliographic Details
Title: COVID-19 and the Right to Education in Chile: An Opportunity to Revisit Our Social Contract
Language: English
Authors: Gelber, Denisse (ORCID 0000-0001-6073-5808), Castillo, Carolina (ORCID 0000-0002-8264-7929), Alarcón, Luciano, Treviño, Ernesto (ORCID 0000-0001-6510-1302), Escribano, Rosario (ORCID 0000-0001-6321-8654)
Source: International Review of Education. Apr 2021 67(1-2):79-101.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2021
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: COVID-19, Pandemics, School Closing, At Risk Students, Access to Education, Equal Education, Student Rights, Government Role, Educational History, Barriers, Social Bias, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Chile
DOI: 10.1007/s11159-021-09881-2
ISSN: 0020-8566
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing the world into a devastating economic and social scenario. The consequences of this crisis largely impact children and teenagers, both now and in the future. School closures have particularly affected vulnerable children, deepening the effects of their unequal socio-economic circumstances. In this context, the actions governments are taking to protect their citizens' right to education will be crucial to reducing or exacerbating inequality in the long term. The authors of this article analyse the case of Chile, one of the most successful countries in Latin America regarding educational achievement and enrolment, as well as the most segregated educational system among member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). How is the right to education being guaranteed for all during the COVID-19 pandemic? Are the measures taken by the Ministry of Education mitigating or intensifying long-term inequalities? Based on the "4-A scheme" described by Katarina Tomasevski, which conceptualises national governments' obligations to guarantee the right to education, the authors examine the normative basis of Chile's market-oriented educational system (1980-2013) as well as the latest educational reform (2014-2017), which aimed to promote the right to quality education, and critically analyse the measures adopted by the Chilean Ministry of Education in response to the pandemic. The authors conclude that Chile is facing a major challenge to ensure the right to education for all. A new social contract is required to reduce structural inequalities, and to avoid a potential setback in human rights.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2021
Accession Number: EJ1299846
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing the world into a devastating economic and social scenario. The consequences of this crisis largely impact children and teenagers, both now and in the future. School closures have particularly affected vulnerable children, deepening the effects of their unequal socio-economic circumstances. In this context, the actions governments are taking to protect their citizens' right to education will be crucial to reducing or exacerbating inequality in the long term. The authors of this article analyse the case of Chile, one of the most successful countries in Latin America regarding educational achievement and enrolment, as well as the most segregated educational system among member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). How is the right to education being guaranteed for all during the COVID-19 pandemic? Are the measures taken by the Ministry of Education mitigating or intensifying long-term inequalities? Based on the "4-A scheme" described by Katarina Tomasevski, which conceptualises national governments' obligations to guarantee the right to education, the authors examine the normative basis of Chile's market-oriented educational system (1980-2013) as well as the latest educational reform (2014-2017), which aimed to promote the right to quality education, and critically analyse the measures adopted by the Chilean Ministry of Education in response to the pandemic. The authors conclude that Chile is facing a major challenge to ensure the right to education for all. A new social contract is required to reduce structural inequalities, and to avoid a potential setback in human rights.
ISSN:0020-8566
DOI:10.1007/s11159-021-09881-2