Wendy WilliamsSTUDENTS and teachers across Spain have taken to the streets today to demonstrate about the €3 billion spending cuts in education.
A million workers and 7.5 million students were called out on a general strike marking the first ever strike across all levels of public education in the country.
Union officials said it was too early to confirm exactly how many teachers are staying away from work.
But all of Spain’s 17 regions except for the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands are participating.
The cuts will see class sizes increase, teachers working more hours for the same pay and university tuition fees rising by up to 25 per cent.
And according to the Unions it will result in job losses of some 100,000 with thousands of youngsters unable to go to university.
“Quality public education is in danger of dying,” said Voro Benavent, spokesman for the Teaching Workers Union, STE.
“They are sacrificing our youths’ learning because of the crisis.”
However the government insists the cuts, of more than 20 per cent, are necessary so it can meet its spending targets for the year.
It comes as Spain is struggling to cut its deficit amid ongoing fears it will need a bailout.
There needs to be cuts and there is no two ways about it. But the children in these schools feel as though their well being is being sacrificed while the fat cats get the cream. Spain is suffering because of the greed of the few. As for those that cannot afford to send their children to university, what are they going to do instead? With no job and no future, things are looking very bleak for the youth in Spain today!