Chilean students stage widespread protests demanding education reform
SANTIAGO, Chile – Chilean students are staging nationwide demonstrations demanding free education.
Riot police are patrolling the streets of Santiago and many shopkeepers are shutting their doors, fearing looting ahead of Thursday’s protest.
Few students have seen any real benefits after two years of massive marches that initially raised hopes across Chile for education reform.
The marches began during the 2006-2010 government of Michelle Bachelet and have troubled President Sebastian Pinera even more.
Pinera’s government is focusing a chunk of the 2013 budget on financing school loans at lower rates.
But students say the system is still fails them, with poor public schools, expensive private universities, unprepared teachers and unaffordable loans.
Education reform is a hot issue in November’s presidential election.
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