Rome ( CNN ) -- Tens of thousands of university students took to the streets of Rome on Wednesday , Italian media estimated , amid heavy security to protest educational reforms planned by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi 's government . Students say the reforms will harm their futures and Italy 's educational system . The demonstrations came in the wake of violent protests on December 14 , after Berlusconi survived a parliamentary vote that could have ended his tenure as prime minister . He pulled through by three votes . Ensuing violence on that day caused an estimated 20 million euros ( $ 26 million ) damage to Rome 's historic center when cars , garbage cans and benches were set aflame and cash machines and store windows were smashed . More than 100 people were injured , although none seriously . Protesters on Wednesday opted to avoid the heavily patrolled city center by aiming for the outskirts of town , where they blocked a major thoroughfare . `` We are peaceful . We think the only violence is the reform the government is imposing on our country in these days , '' Simone Oggionni , a demonstrator outside Rome 's La Sapienza University , told CNN . The student marches remained peaceful into the mid-afternoon in the Italian capital . However , there were reports of pockets of violence in other Italian cities , including Milan and Palermo . Backers of the reform say it will save Italy 's education system by increasing transparency and reinforcing a meritocracy . Students claim the reform package amounts to cuts and the privatization of the education sector . Known as the `` legge Gelmini '' after Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini , the reform was scheduled for a vote in the Senate Wednesday , but voting is now likely to be put off until Thursday . Students are reaching out to Italy 's President Giorgio Napolitano and planned to meet with him later on Wednesday . Napolitano has the power to block the reform 's passage by withholding his signature . A group of university neuroscience researchers were also at the march . One protester who identified herself only as Federica told CNN , `` We are researchers in cognitive neuroscience and are not going to get our projects funded ... plus a lot of hospitals where we carry on our research are going to close because of budget cuts . '' Some estimates say the reform will result in 130,000 job losses in the education sector .
NEW : Scientists say their funding will be cut by the reforms . The government 's plans will harm students ' futures , they say . Demonstrations a week ago turned violent . Heavy security blanketed Rome for the demonstration .