SANTIAGO – Thousands of students marched Tuesday in Santiago against a government-backed bill that aims to reform Chile’s higher education system.

Nearly 300,000 students took to the streets to demand that the legislation be scrapped, organizers said.

A few clashes with police were reported during the march, which was organized by the Chilean Students Confederation (CONFECH) and other groups, and was joined by several dozen professors.

Riot police fired tear gas and used water cannons against hooded protesters at different points during the march.

Protesters urged President Michelle Bachelet’s administration to pull the bill, which is to be debated by the Chamber of Deputies’ education committee on Tuesday.

Students have been calling since 2011 for free, quality higher education, an issue that Bachelet made part of her campaign platform.

Students, however, oppose the administration’s proposals, arguing that they retain too many market-based elements.

Protests were also held in the cities of Concepcion, Arica, Temuco and Puerto Montt, but no incidents were reported.

Lawmakers Gabriel Boric and Giorgio Jackson, both former student leaders, participated in the march in Valparaiso, where Congress has its seat.