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In the middle of the first anniversary of the Ministry of Science, the holder of the portfolio, Andres Couve, came out to confirm bad news that set off alarms in the scientific world: the calls for Chile Scholarships for 2021 will be suspended, the program of which finances and allows compatriots to study master’s and doctorates abroad on the condition that -on their return- pay in the country with their knowledge.
To try to calm the spirits of the scientific community, he immediately warned that “only” new scholarships would be cut and those already in progress would be maintained. “We are facing a very complex budgetary scenario where there is a fiscal deficit, economic recession, there are many needs in economic matters, in social matters, and the 2021 budget has been established as a budget for employment and reactivation,” he stressed.
However, as soon as it was known, the criticisms did not take long to appear. María Paz Bertoglia, president of the Chilean Society of Epidemiology, was blunt: “A pandemic is not controlled with science fiction (Although the spokesperson believes so), it is controlled with science. Not awarding Chile Scholarships during 2021 is a TREMENDOUS mistake that we will end up paying in spades. They are mortgaging our future by not investing in science in the present, “he accused.
A pandemic is not controlled with science fiction (although the spokesperson believes so), it is controlled with science.
Not awarding Chile Scholarships during 2021 is a TREMENDOUS mistake that we will end up paying in spades.
They are mortgaging our future by not investing in science in the present.– Maria Paz Bertoglia 💚 (@pinabertoglia) October 1, 2020
Aside, The announcement also generated frustration among those who were waiting for the call, and who had begun to prepare, and even those who started their respective applications while waiting to obtain the benefit. So much so that some did not take long to express the disappointment generated by the announcement on a personal level, particularly through the Becas Chile ANID community on Facebook, through which scholarship holders and applicants around the world often communicate, who often offer advice on selfless way to help those who want to opt for the program.
Carolina P-Knowles was one of those who expressed her discomfort on said platform: “The anger I have is such that a few tears fell. Perhaps many of you feel the same. The suspension of the scholarships is to say goodbye to the opportunity to study abroad and then pay back in the improvement of education in my country, since by the time they open again (if it happens) my daughter will be 18 years old, for which would not receive support. I can’t afford to pay her expenses out of my pocket, I can’t even pay for a graduate degree here. I only have two options: to definitively resign from the magister or leave my daughter here ”, he said.
During the morning of this Friday, meanwhile, the Undersecretary of Science, Carolina Torrealba, came out to defend the decision on T13 Radio: “We are in a complex pandemic budget. And our focus is to take care of and strengthen the national scientific system, and that implies temporarily suspending the new calls for scholarships sent by students abroad ”.
“It is contemplated to hold the national contest and deliver more than 700 scholarships for postgraduate studies in Chile. The cost involved in Becas Chile is very high and with the cost of a scholarship abroad we finance 3 national scholarships ”, assured.
However, as can be seen in the 2021 Budget, the gloss for National Graduate Scholarships was also cut by 2.9% compared to the 2020 Budget, so it is possible to deduce that an expansion of the local program will not be executed to the detriment of the cut to Becas Chile.
La Moneda ratifies decision
Despite all the criticism, the Minister of the Interior, Victor Perez, did nothing more than ratify the decision after being consulted on the matter during the inspection of the San Carlos de Apoquindo Stadium, which will host the university classic this Sunday.
Specifically, Pérez stressed that the 2021 Budget is contingent on employment and economic recovery. “There is no doubt that programs that are absolutely necessary in normal times will have to be reduced as well as families will have to reduce expenses and investments. It is a similar situation that the State of Chile is experiencing ”, he assured.
While, slipped that there are few options to reverse the measure: “The debate in Congress may change some items, but I reiterate: we have to find the resources to regain employment and economic recovery. And that responsibility the Government has taken very seriously, “he insisted.
To close the matter, he de-dramatized the position of critics who emphasize that Becas Chile and scientific development is urgent in the midst of a pandemic. “It is a priority, that is why the existing program is maintained. The only thing that is done is to postpone the call. That can certainly delay some things, but in no case does it put the country’s research or scientific development at risk, ”he said.
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