Students return to streets over free education pledge

Chilean students marched through Santiago on 16 April to demand the government fulfil pledges to guarantee free higher education, reviving a protest movement that captured global headlines three years ago, writes Javiera Quiroga for Bloomberg.

Under the slogan of “Chile Decides its Education”, as many as 150,000 filed past the presidential palace in the centre of the city, according to organisers. The police estimated that about 20,000 attended the march, which ended in skirmishes with security forces.

The march represents a challenge to President Michelle Bachelet, who has seen her popularity fall to a record low. After making education from kindergarten to high school free of charge this year, Bachelet’s administration is now focusing on a bill for free university-level education. Student leaders are demanding a greater say in that debate amid concerns the government will backtrack on some of its promises as costs escalate.
Full report on the Bloomberg site