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Chile: Bachelet sacks rightwinger but pushes on with ‘reforms’

CHILEAN President Michelle Bachelet sacked her education minister Nicolas Eyzaguirre on Saturday in response to mass protests by students.

Mr Eyzaguirre, previously an IMF adviser and right-wing finance minister, was replaced by Adriana Delpiano — linked to former president Ricardo Lagos.

Despite the change, Ms Bachelet suggested that the government would press on with its educational reforms.

Tens of thousands of students took to the streets last Thursday to voice their opposition to the plans, which have provoked a indefinite strike by teachers.

The Bill now being debated would rejig teachers’ salaries and force them to spend more time planning and in meetings — or face the sack.

The government has pledged to make secondary education free by 2016, but students and teachers say that promises to end private profit in the sector have not been met and have demanded the government sit down for talks.

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