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May 23, 2012

Tens of Thousands Protest Education Cuts in Spain 
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In Spain, massive protests were held Tuesday as teachers went on strike
and took to the streets to protest sweeping government cuts to
education. Tens of thousands of teachers and students marched in Madrid,
Barcelona and across the country. This is a geology student named
Ernesto.

Ernesto: "They tell us our fees don't cover the costs, but I would say
we are paying (the costs), we are paying them with taxes. The
politicians don't pay our fees with there money, their wages, it's money
they are stealing from the people."

The Spanish government has ordered the country’s 17 autonomous regions
to cut $4 billion from education this year as part of a plan to trim the
deficit. Unions say the cuts will put 100,000 substitute teachers out of
work. Spain’s autonomous regions are also expected to raise fees for
state universities.

 

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