Chile’s Public Education System: 2025 Evaluation Highlights Progress and Challenges
The Public Education System Evaluation Council recently presented its 2025 Annual Report on the implementation of Chile’s public education system, revealing significant progress in the installation of the new system while also outlining strategic recommendations to address ongoing challenges and ensure its long-term consolidation. The report underscores the complexity of the reform and affirms the unfeasibility of reverting to a municipal administration model.
Key Findings from the 2025 Report
The report highlights the substantial progress made in establishing the New Public Education System, with projections indicating that it will oversee more than half of all SLEP (Local Public Education Services) transfers by 2026. Currently, 36 SLEPs are operational, with 58 created to date, marking a pivotal moment in the system’s development.
A significant regulatory adjustment noted in the report is the modification to Law 21,040. This amendment strengthens the implementation of the system through mandatory transfer agreements with municipalities, introduces new accountability and sanction measures, clarifies roles in pedagogical support and formalizes evaluation and coordination organizations.
External evaluations, including assessments by the University of Chile and a joint evaluation conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), have corroborated the Council’s findings regarding the strengths and challenges of the new system UNESCO.
Persistent Challenges
Despite the noted advancements, the Council identifies several challenges that require attention. These include:
- Deficits and tensions within the financing model.
- Outstanding debts inherited from the municipal administration.
- Pending adjustments in personnel management.
- The need for continued investment in infrastructure and school climate.
Key Recommendations for Improvement
The 2025 Report proposes several key recommendations to address these challenges and strengthen the public education system:
Structural Review of the Financing Model
The Council emphasizes the need for a comprehensive review of the current financing scheme, acknowledging the tensions arising from the dual nature of SLEPs – their roles as both public services and educational supporters. A social and political discussion is recommended to adjust the financing model, providing greater stability, regulatory coherence, and flexibility in resource management.
Sanitation of Municipal Debts and Financial Sustainability
Addressing debts inherited from the municipal administration, particularly unpaid pension contributions and supplier obligations, is deemed urgent. Resolving these liabilities is considered essential for a fair evaluation of SLEP performance.
People Management and Institutional Strengthening
The Council advocates for a gradual, dialogue-based approach to address existing personnel issues within educational establishments, prioritizing pedagogical and territorial considerations. Strengthening the central teams of SLEPs, enhancing the Civil Service’s capacity to fill management positions, and developing a national policy for training and attracting talent in public education management are also recommended.
Democratic Participation and Leadership
The report identifies gaps in the effectiveness of participatory processes, often dependent on the leadership of individual Services. Strengthening regulations to safeguard the participation of educational communities, promoting distributed leadership, and launching a national information campaign to clarify the reform’s meaning and scope are proposed.
Integration of Early Childhood Education and Pedagogical Support
The Council stresses the importance of incorporating specific strategic guidelines for preschool education and diversifying the profiles of technical-pedagogical support based on educational levels and modalities. Strengthening teams specializing in school coexistence and inclusion, and prioritizing infrastructure investment in schools with the greatest needs, are also recommended.
About the Evaluation Council
Established by Law No. 21,040, the Public Education System Evaluation Council advises the President of the Republic on monitoring and evaluating the implementation of Local Public Education Services (SLEP). The Council has presented eight reports to date, including seven annual reports (2018-2024) and an interim evaluation covering 2018-2021 U.S. Department of Education.
The 2025 report was prepared by six members: Aldo Cassinelli, Fernando Peña, Gonzalo Muñoz, María Teresa Flórez, Omar Jara, and Daniel Rodríguez (who resigned on January 22, 2026).