( CNN ) -- Tens of thousands of people marched through Chile 's capital Thursday , demanding lower tuition and other reforms in the nation 's education system . Police said at least 70,000 people took to the streets in Santiago , CNN Chile reported . Some protesters hurled stones at authorities as riot police sprayed tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators . The march drew the attention of Chilean Education Minister Joaquin Lavin . `` The violence worries me . We can not allow it . The possibility that some children and youth will miss the school year worries me . Every time there are protests , there are stoppages , instead of improving public education , we are hurting it , '' he said . `` We can not keep missing classes . Please , I want to call for prudence . On the path we are on , education will not be fixed . '' But protest organizers said massive marches were necessary to make the government take notice . `` The education policies must be redesigned , '' Jaime Gajardo , president of the College of Professors , told CNN Chile . `` We can not continue on this path of privatization . '' University students and professors organized the march . High school students in Chile have also been conducting sit-ins and protests .
CNN Chile shows some clashes between protesters and police . Organizers say marches are necessary to force government reforms . Chile 's education minister urges prudence and criticizes violence .