Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pledged to give greater benefits to university students on Thursday, which marked National University Students' Day.

The benefits announced by Maduro at a celebration rally in Caracas include 10,000-US-dollar scholarships to help students study abroad "at the best universities," and raise the number of university scholarships to 200,000.

The government will also give each university student a tablet and ensure free Wi-Fi service at all universities, Maduro said.

As students marked the day with marches along the capital's four main avenues, Education Minister Maryann Hanson underscored education as a constitutional right as well as a free, inclusive and quality public service.

"This public and social service has led to great achievements and progress that the (socialist) revolution can show to the world," Hanson said, highlighting the role of students in strengthening society to guarantee and defend the country's independence and sovereignty.

Venezuela has increased university enrollments from 600,000 students in 1998 to more than 2.5 million at present.