European Awakening: Spain teachers protest education cuts

Thousands of Spanish teachers have staged a second day of demonstrations in the capital of Madrid, against the regional government’s education cuts.

“This is a robbery. These cuts mean stealing public schools from us, which is an essential right for every citizens,” Reuters quoted Enrique, a school teacher, as saying.

Students together with their parents joined the teachers in their rallies on Wednesday.

In addition, some 75 percent of teachers in the northwestern community of Galicia rallied in support of their counterparts in Madrid.

The cuts are meant to save Madrid’s regional government some EUR 80 million by forcing teachers to work two extra hours each week.

Officials have said the cuts are necessary to prevent Spain from sliding deeper into the economic crisis.

Tens of thousands also rallied on Tuesday against the cuts, holding placards saying, “Remember London: fewer teachers today means more police tomorrow.”

The budget cuts are expected to attract more protests across Spain in the coming days.