Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said the ongoing student protests that flared again Thursday did not reflect the reality of the country's educational system.

As evidence, he said that the student protesters only occupied fewer than 1 percent of the 11,000 schools throughout the country.

"There are nine schools that are occupied. That is less than 0.1 percent. We carefully listen to the 0.1 percent as well as the rest of the 99.9 percent who want to study," said Pinera.

"We are greatly committed to education and employment and that is being reflected by the facts," Pinera told reporters at the presidential headquarters of Palacio de La Moneda.

The president said the government was not indifferent to students' demands, as the Congress had passed six laws to improve the national education system, and seven more laws were to deliberate.

On Thursday, thousands of middle-school students marched through Chile's capital Santiago, clashing with police who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.

Last week, several main streets in downtown Santiago remained closed to traffic and stores were shuttered. Police stormed three middle schools and arrested 139 students.

Chilean students began demonstrations in April 2011, calling for a fundamental education reform. Cases of violence, school occupations, and burning of buses have since then been frequently reported.

University education in Chile is among the most expensive ones in the world. While tuition costs stand at about $3,500, the average salary is about $8,500.

Pinera's government has proposed a series of educational reforms.