Thousands protest education cuts in London

Student tuition fees protest passes off peacefully

Few incidents reported as police appear to outnumber students and activists marching in protest against fee increases

• Shiv Malik, Patrick Kingsley, Alexandra Topping and agencies
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 November 2011

Students protest over university tuition fees and public sector cuts. Photograph: Ray Tang / Rex Features

Thousands of students marched through central London on Wednesday to protest against fee increases and were met by large numbers of police but as darkness fell the demonstration appeared to be passing off peacefully.

As the protestors made their way through the City there were sporadic incidents involving bottles being thrown.

Chilean students clash with police

October 7, 2011

Riots erupted on the streets of the Chilean capital Santiago after talks between student leaders and the government broke down.

Security forces used water cannon and tear gas to break up gangs of protesters. Students responded with rocks and other missiles.

Over 130 people were arrested and at least 30 people injured in the latest clashes on Thursday. Those hurt included police, protesters and a journalist.

The demonstration kicked off after five hours of talks with the Education Minister Felipe Bulnes stalled over disagreement on how to cut education costs and work towards a free education system, a key demand of the students. They say high costs make further education inaccessible and leave students with massive debts.

Students have been protesting almost daily since June.

Copyright © 2011 euronews

Students and police face off in Bogota protest

September 23, 2011

Colombian authorities and students faced off Thursday, with stun guns, tear gas, stones, and potato bombs at a university protest in Bogota, reported Caracol Radio.

The protest, involving at least 100 students of the Universidad Distrital, blocked Avenida Circunvalar, close to Calle 28, a roadway in the north of the capital city. Students were protesting reform measures being passed on Colombia’s higher education systems.

Police officers realized Thursday that protesters had stolen nine .38 caliber revolvers from private security staff working for the university during the riot.

At the protest site, students have been fighting with stones and potato bombs. In response, anti-riot police have been trying to control the protesters using stun guns, tear gas, and water canons.

At the height of the madness, an anti-riot police officer was wounded in the arm by an explosive device thrown at members of the police force.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/19183-students-and-police-face-off-in-bogota-protest.html

Against “austerity” and “corporatisation” of universities, Greek students protest

(Malta)

Thursday, September 1, 2011
AFP– Greek students protest university reforms

Greek students held sit-ins at several universities yesterday to protest adoption of reforms by Parliament to make the country’s universities more competitive, local media reported.

In a protest that started earlier this week, the occupation affected about 40 institutions by yesterday, on the eve of demonstrations planned for Athens and Salonika, the reports said.

Many of the students were affiliated to radical and communist movements.

Last week, the Greek Parliament backed a bill which aims to improve the operation of universities marred by chronic waste of state funds and nepotism.

It also seeks to end the practice of thousands of Greek families sending their children to study abroad every year instead of opting for domestic institutions which are regularly shut down by student occupations and protests.

The overhaul has been criticised by many academics and leftist political parties who say it puts undue emphasis on business-oriented degrees to the detriment of other academic disciplines less in demand by employers.

An attempt by the government to open university boards to outsiders such as business leaders has also proved controversial.