Chile students protest for education reform

Few students have seen real benefits after two years of marches. But education reform remains a key issue in November's presidential election.

Thousands of Chilean students are staging protests demanding free education.

Wednesday's march has been peaceful, with students waving flags, chanting slogans and dancing in the streets. But police are beginning to clash with small groups of hooded vandals who often infiltrate the marches.

Few students have seen real benefits after two years of marches. But education reform remains a key issue in November's presidential election.

The marches began during Michelle Bachelet's 2006-2010 government and became larger under President Sebastian Pinera.

His government is focusing a portion of the 2013 budget on financing school loans at lower rates.

But students say the system is still fails them with poor quality public schools, unprepared teachers and expensive loans that most Chileans can't afford.