Education in Chile is divided in preschool, primary school, secondary school, and technical or higher education (university).The levels of education in Chile are:
Pre-school: For children up to 5 years old. Primary school: (Enseñanza básica) for children aged 6–14 years old, divided into 8 grades. Secondary school: (Enseñanza media) for teenagers aged 15–18 years old, divided into 4 grades. Schools are divided by curriculum into: "Scientific-humanities". Geared to prepare students to enter university. From 11th grade (Tercero Medio), students can choose a subject in either science (math, physics, chemistry, biology), or humanities (literature, history, philosophy), for more advanced lessons. "Technical-professional". Designed to allow students to quickly enter the workforce after secondary education. Students are taught practical lessons in technical areas, such as electricity, mechanics, metal assembly, etc. Higher education: University (universidad): These are divided between "traditional" universities (public and private universities created (mostly) before the 1981 reform) and private institutions. Professional Institute (Instituto Profesional, IP): Private institutions offering professional degrees, except for those given exclusively by universities. They were created in 1981. Technical Schooling Center (Centro de Formación Técnica, CFT): Also created in 1981, they are private institutions offering technical degrees only.
Pre-school
Levels:
Sala Cuna Menor: children between 85 days of age to one year of age
Sala Cuna Mayor: children between one and two years of age
Nivel Medio Menor: children between two and three years of age
Nivel Medio Mayor: children between three and four years of age
Primer Nivel Transición or Pre-Kinder: children between four and five years of age Segundo Nivel de Transición or Kinder: children between five and six years of age
The law establishes free access to the last two levels of pre-school. A constitutional reform in 2013 called for the law to extend free access to four levels, and make the last one mandatory and a prerequisite to enter primary school.
The coverage for pre-school in 2009 was 37.42% (for children aged 0 to 5) and 44.96% (for persons of any age).
Primary and secondary education
The law makes primary and secondary school mandatory for all Chileans.
The Chilean state provides an extensive system of education vouchers that covers about 93% of primary and secondary students (the other 7% attend non-subsidized private schools). The system is based on a direct payment to the schools based on daily attendance.
Schools are either public (nearly all owned by the municipality of the commune in which the school is located) or private, which may receive government subsidies.
Private schools (subsidized or not) may be organized as either for or non-profit. In order to receive public funding, private schools must reserve 15% of seats in each class to students classified as "vulnerable" (based on family income and mother's level of education). Schools receive extra funding for each "vulnerable" student they enroll.
Primary
The 1965 reform established primary education as the initial cycle of schooling. Before that, by 1920, Chilean legislation had established four years of minimum mandatory education. By 1929 the minimum had been increased to six years. Since 1965, the primary level has been obligatory, with a current duration of 8 years in total divided into 2 cycles and 8 grades:
1st Cycle: 1st grade (age 6-7), 2nd grade (age 7-8), 3rd grade (age 8-9), 4th grade (age 9-10).
2nd Cycle: 5th grade (age 10-11), 6th grade (age 11-12), 7th grade (age 12-13), 8th grade (age 13-14).
Secondary
Secondary education is divided between Scientific-Humanist (regular), Technical-Professional (vocational) and Artistic, all lasting four years. The first two years are the same for the three kinds of schooling, while the third and fourth years are differentiated according to the orientation of the school.
The schools offering Technical-Professional programs are denominated:
Industrial Schools: electricity, mechanics, electronics, informatics, among others. Commercial Schools: management, accountancy, secretary and similar. Technical Schools: fashion, culinary, nursery and the like. Polyvalent Schools: offering careers of more than one of those listed above.
Most of the students choosing the vocational branch come from disadvantaged socioeconomic background. Private school with subscribing-fees gathers less than 1% of the students.