Student protesters who have snarled Chile's universities and high schools with weeks of strikes and demonstrations called Monday for a national referendum on their demand for free and high-quality education.
The students also want teachers to join them Tuesday in a nationwide strike, and plan to march again without police permission down the capital's main avenue. When they marched last week, nearly 900 protesters were arrested.
Catholic University student leader Giorgio Jackson said the situation was getting critical because many high school students could lose a year's worth of education and about 40 student hunger strikers can't hold on much longer.
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Camila Vallejos, a spokeswoman for protesting university students, said it would be good to let Chile's citizens decide if they want the government to spend more and provide all students with free and improved education.
After two months of marches, strikes and school takeovers, Pinera replaced his education minister and proposed a package of 21 reform measures.
Students rejected the proposal because it doesn't directly address a key demand that private universities invest their income in educational improvements, which protesters say is required by law for nonprofit institutions.
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