PS caucus criticizes the end of Yo Elijo mi PC and announces it will seek to reverse the decision in Congress

The Socialist Party's bench of deputies announced this Friday that it will seek to reverse the Executive's decision to remove funding from the Yo Elijo mi PC program, a measure included in the 2027 Budget proposal that will enter Congress next Monday. The lawmakers rejected the government's decision, which ends the initiative launched in 2009 under Michelle Bachelet's administration and which for 17 years allowed computers to be given to low-income students in the country. Deputy Juan Santana, a member of the Education Committee, stated that "this government, without any explanation, and particularly Minister Quiroz, eliminates it, leaving nearly one hundred thousand students out of this benefit." In that regard, he warned: "We are going to reject the budget presented by the Minister of Finance in education matters. We will demand that he reinstate this public policy, which was respected throughout all these administrations, and whose main objective is to provide a technological tool to students in public education and, mainly, to those who come from the most vulnerable sectors of our country." For his part, Deputy César Valenzuela recalled that "the government committed to not eliminating social benefits and, nevertheless, they want to leave nearly one hundred thousand children without their first computer." "That is why, from the National Congress, we will do everything possible to reverse this decision, which is absolutely incomprehensible," he said. Deputy Marcos Ilabaca challenged the head of the Finance Ministry, stating that "for many families, that computer is the possibility for their children to study, do their homework, and learn without falling behind. And you say the program had problems, but you admit you don't remember which ones. How can you justify removing this support without even explaining what failed?" Meanwhile, Deputy José Antonio Rivas acknowledged that the "program has had problems, of course, but if something works badly, it gets fixed; it is not eliminated, leaving the family to pay the cost." In turn, Deputy Carolina Cucumides described the decision as "a lapse in judgment." "This President and this government fail to understand — or they do understand, and it is regrettable that they want to say that low-income young people, those who strive the most, those who get good grades, should not have access to such a necessary tool in today's world." Deputy Francisco Crisóstomo noted that for the beneficiary students, the computer "can make a concrete difference in their education and their future. What is most serious is that this measure is not an isolated event; it reflects a way of governing that puts at risk social benefits that have been fundamental for thousands of families." For his part, Deputy Daniel Manouchehri agreed that the program should have been corrected, not eliminated. "What the government is doing is a true attack on the education of our children and shows that we have a Minister of Finance who is not aware of what we must do to generate development in Chile." Finally, Deputy Andrea Macías argued that the elimination of the program "will deepen inequality, because today a computer is not a luxury, it is part of education. And when the State withdraws, those who have resources can access the purchase of technology, but those who do not have them are left behind."