Tens of thousands of student protesters denouncing the government's education reform descended on the Chilean capital of Santiago on Thursday (August 4), ending again in clashes with police as in weeks prior.
Students organisers from Confech, an acronym for the Confederation of Chilean Students, claimed some 50,000 protesters participated in the march.
Clashes erupted between protesters and police when the demonstration reached Santa Rosa, a Santiago avenue. Police responded to protesters throwing rocks with tear gas and water cannons. March organizers denounced the violence.
The students have been demonstrating for years for education reform and free university tuition.
Last year, Chile's Congress approved the first of President Michelle Bachelet's education reforms which include an end to profits at state-subsidised schools and eliminates their selective entrance policies.
Bachelet has also said she plans to increase teacher pay and provide additional funds for poor students.
But activists say the changes don't go far enough and want Chile to provide free university tuition because students are often weighed down with loans after graduation.
