Protesters demand education reform in Chile

Thousands of students have taken to the streets of the Chilean capital Santiago to put pressure on President Michelle Bachelet to deliver on her promise of education reform.

Smaller protest marches also took place in other towns and cities in Chile.

Violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and police but overall the march in Santiago was peaceful.

Chile’s government has pledged to introduce major changes to the country’s education system, which was privatised under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. It has been criticised for being poor quality and expensive.

In May, President Bachelet introduced her first series of reforms. Plans to introduce free university education are expected to be passed later this year.