Mexico student protest clashes

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

Students went on a rampage in Oaxaca City, Mexico on Friday night (March 21) setting fire to a truck and damaging property as they demanded improvements to local schools.

The protesting students were met by riot police who fired tear gas and detained some 160 of the protesters, local media reported.

A similar protest took place in Oaxaca City on March 13 when students set tyres on fire, and looted offices and official vehicles for some 45 minutes. The students were demanding talks with authorities on improving local schools.

Among the student demands are an improvement in school infrastructure and education resources.

Last year, the Mexican government signed into effect an education reform law that introduced evaluation tests for teachers and fortified the administrative autonomy of individual institutions.

Mexico's record on student achievement is one of the worst among countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-