Petition to Minister Nicolás Cataldo Astorga:

Tomás Ignacio Bórquez Sánchez, a high school senior from Liceo Bicentenario San Pedro in Puente Alto, Chile, addresses the Minister of Education with a heartfelt petition advocating for equity and inclusion in the public education system. He critiques the legacy of market-driven reforms that introduced competition and social segregation in education, turning schools into consumer goods based on socioeconomic status.

Tomás highlights persistent inequalities despite reforms like the Inclusion Law and calls for two key improvements:

1. Inclusive Education for Neurodivergent Students: Current regulations (Decree No. 170) limit the number of students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) per class, effectively excluding many who need support. There is a lack of trained professionals, resources, and real institutional readiness to accommodate students with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He argues for mandatory implementation of the School Integration Program (PIE) in all schools—including private ones—to ensure real inclusion backed by funding, training, and accountability.

2. Effective Oversight and Regulation: Oversight is weak and often punitive, exacerbating school precariousness. School rules often violate students' rights (e.g., suspensions for appearance) under the guise of internal regulations, with little intervention from authorities. Tomás proposes a supportive oversight framework that enforces equity without harming institutions, ensuring that no non-academic factors block access to education.

He concludes by urging the Ministry to take active responsibility in creating a fairer, more inclusive educational environment—for students, teachers, and the future of Chile.