24 Sep 2011

Educational reform wanted in Chile

7:07 am on 24 September 2011

Tens of thousands of students and teachers have marched in the Chilean capital, Santiago, in the latest mass demonstration to demand educational reform.

The march was largely peaceful, but ended with clashes between riot police and masked youths throwing stones.

The BBC reports the campaign for free public education is the biggest protest movement Chile has seen since the return to democracy in 1990.

The government has promised some reforms, but the students say they do not go far enough.

Organisers said around 180,000 people took part in Thursday's march, making it the biggest in several weeks.

They want the central government to take full control of education and increase spending on public schools.

They also want increased funding for universities, including scholarships rather than loans for poorer students, and an end to profit in education.