CHILE-STUDENTS/CLASHES Student protest over education reforms turns ugly

Record ID: 142292

  • Title: CHILE-STUDENTS/CLASHES Student protest over education reforms turns ugly
  • Date: 27th August 2015
  • Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (AUGUST 27, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE FIRING WATER CANNON AT PROTESTERS PROTESTERS THROWING ROCKS AT WATER CANNON VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BEING DISPERSED BY WATER CANNON HOODED PROTESTERS THROWING ROCKS AT WATER CANNON VARIOUS OF POLICE ARRESTING PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BEING DISPERSED BY WATER CANNON MORE OF POLICE DETAINING PROTESTERS MORE OF PROTESTERS BEING DISPERSED VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING THROUGH STREETS PROTESTERS MARCHING WHILE CARRYING LARGE FLAG OF CHILE
  • Embargoed: 11th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Chile
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1CEAD0I8OXGW45D8KZ870NIVF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Students clashed with police in the centre of the Chilean capital on Thursday (August 27) in the most recent blow up in ongoing protests over educational reform.
    The Confederation of Chilean Students (Conch) took to the streets and began marching from Santiago University, demanding transparency and more in the way of government reforms.
    The march began peacefully, but escalated into violence after a group of students strayed from the authorized route and police tried to disperse the crowds with a water cannon.
    The protesters responded by throwing rocks at police manning the water cannon.
    The violence comes as President Michelle Bachelet looks act on various measures.
    Her government is set to bolster teacher pay and conditions, bring public schools - now managed and financed by townships - under national jurisdiction, make university education free, and provide additional state funds for poor students.
    These promises formed the base of Bachelet's election manifesto, after student protests four years ago played a major role in ending the conservative government of Sebastian Pinera.
    Earlier this year, Chile's Congress approved the first of Bachelet's education reforms which include an end to profits at state-subsidised schools and eliminates their selective entrance policies.
    However, with Bachelet now a year into her term, the new generation of student protesters say the reforms do not go far enough.
    Protesters have demanded that Chile use its natural resources and tax system to fund free tuition for students, who now are often saddled with loans.
    The movement is also increasingly becoming an outlet for social protests in general, over topics from the pension system to fishing rights, as Bachelet's popularity has sunken to an all-time low.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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