education

For foreigners who move to Chile here are a sample of International schools in Santiago

Education system

INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Universidad (University)

Instituto Profesional (Professional Institute)

Centro de Formación Técnica (Technical Training Centre)

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 14

Structure of school system:

Basic

Type of school providing this education: Educación básica

Length of program in years: 8

Age level from: 6 to: 14

Certificate/diploma awarded: Primary School Leaving Certificate

Academic Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Liceo

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 14 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Licencia de Educación Media (LEM)

Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Técnico-profesional

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 14 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Licencia de Educación Media (LEM); Técnico Médio

School education:

General basic education (EGB) is compulsory and lasts for eight years, divided into two cycles of four years each. Secondary education (Educación media) lasts for four years. Students choose to specialize either in humanistic-scientific education (EMHC) or technical-professional education (EMTP). The humanistic-scientific branch, offered in liceos, is a preparation for higher education. Students are awarded the Licencia de Educación Media at the end.Technical-professional education offers a two-year common course and two years of specialization divided into five branches: industrial, technical, agricultural, commercial and maritime. Students who successfully complete their secondary education obtain the Licencia de Educación Media or the title of Técnico de Nivel Medio. In addition, to enter universities, they must pass the Prueba de Aptitúd académica (PAA). As from 2003, it will be replaced by the Prueba de Selección Universitaria (PSU).

Higher education:

Higher education is provided by universities, professional institutes and technical training centres. The Division of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education is responsible for planning and development strategies and for the distribution of funds in higher education. The main coordinating bodies are the Consejo de Rectores de Universidades Chilenas (for the State universities) and the Consejo Superior de Educación. The latter accredits private establishments. The oldest universities and institutos profesionales enjoy academic autonomy. Private higher education institutions (universities, professional institutes and technical training centres) can obtain autonomy after having fulfilled their accreditation, examination or supervision process, depending on the case. Private universities are subject to academic control by an academic entity which must approve study plans and curricula and organize and supervise examinations for students who follow studies to obtain an academic degree or a professional qualification. The same provision is valid for the new Institutos Profesionales. (This only applies to those institutions that are under the examination mode. There are very few of these. Most universities and professional institutes are accredited by the Consejo Superior de Educación. Higher education is not free. Students with limited resources may have access to a system of crédito fiscal universitario, which is allocated to universities according to the number of disadvantaged students enrolled. New private universities and Institutos Profesionales are not entitled to this.

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school and by higher education institutions

Full Description: 1-7:   6-7: muy bueno; 5-5.9: bueno; 4-4.9: suficiente

Highest on scale: 7

Pass/fail level: 4

Lowest on scale: 1