The Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities requests that Congress approve a bill essential to avoid a crisis in teacher training for Chile

The Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), in compliance with its legal mission as an advisory body in the design of public policies, in its ordinary session of September 25, unanimously agreed to express to the members of parliament its concern regarding the progressive closure of teacher training programs nationwide, given that the potential rejection of the bill that modifies Article 27 bis of Law No. 20.129 will deepen the serious crisis in the training of teachers currently being experienced in the country.

Indeed, if this bill is not approved, it is estimated that enrollment in Pedagogy programs will suffer a decrease of 451% nationwide.

The most affected regions would be Antofagasta (with a reduction of 58.1% in the number of selected), Los Lagos (56.7%), Tarapacá (56.4%) and O'Higgins (52.1%), showing that the problem takes on an even more critical dimension in some areas of the country (see footnote).

The consequences of this decrease are at least twofold: first, a reduction in the supply of future teachers, not only in areas where there is already a shortage, but also in those where there is currently sufficient coverage; and second, the decline in the capacity of universities to support teacher training, due to the inevitable closure of Pedagogy programs, causing harm to the development of the territories.

Both situations will have severe repercussions for the education system, since local, regionally based training is key to the continuity and relevance of teaching practices in the regions. In this scenario, the consequences will disproportionately affect low-income families, leading to social fragmentation and inequality.

From our experience as universities, we believe that the quality of future teachers is not defined solely by their admission score, but is built throughout their entire educational journey. This process requires continuous academic support and rigorous, mandatory quality assurance mechanisms.

As CRUCH, we reaffirm our commitment to quality, inclusive, and locally relevant teacher training, capable of responding to the real needs of the country. Therefore, we urgently call upon the members of the National Congress to approve this bill. Their vote will not only impact the sustainability of teacher education programs, but also the future of thousands of students, educational communities, and regions.

(Note: The results correspond to the simulations carried out by the Department of Educational Evaluation, Measurement and Registration of the University of Chile (DEMRE), presented during the plenary session of the CRUCH Admission and Enrollment Commission, on July 18, 2025).