Day 9

UFRO

The Chilean higher education system is an interesting one. Last week, when we were invited by Jacqueline to share a meal with her students, it came as a surprise to us that they all knew exactly what they would go on to do after university. This is because the higher education system is such that students are being prepared for a precise career. Most of the students we met studied education, and it was clear to them that they would all go on to become teachers. To us, choosing a career before entering university, and sticking to it, seemed impossible. It may be that this system could be an efficient way to reduce unemployment in the country. However, it seems to me that there may be a risk of some students feeling 'trapped' in a system that allows for such little flexibility.

Tomorrow, we will be attending a class of Mapudungun given by Jacqueline at the Universidad de la Frontera. This class is not part of any particular program. Our host gives the class every week to a small group of students who have shown particular enthusiasm to learn the language of the Mapuche. Some of the students, are Mapuche themselves, looking to learn the language of their ancestors, which they do not speak. Others are regular Chileans, interested in learning the language of a people that is so closely linked to the history of their country.