Santiago de Chile, May 6 (RHC-teleSUR)-- Police in the Chilean capital of Santiago have fired water cannons at student protesters during a rally against the government’s educational reforms.

Students from the National Coordinator of Secondary Students (CONES) staged the demonstration on Thursday to urge the government to make higher education free in the South American country.  The protest began peacefully but violence erupted after police turned the students from the route that had been previously approved by officials.

Protesters, instead, gathered at a location near the blocked route, trying to cross the limits and get to the blocked street.  Police then used water cannons to disperse protesters. Several demonstrators responded by throwing stones and other objects at police officers.

A series of student demonstrations have been held in Chile over the past few years because of the country’s infamously-expensive and poorly-run system that has been steadily privatized.  Demonstrators have been calling on Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to implement education reforms and gradually introduce free university education.