Hungarian teachers held demonstrations

Several thousand teachers, students, parents on Wednesday held demonstrations in Miskolc, northeastern Hungary.

The demonstrators demanded the reduction of centralization and bureaucracy, properly prepared reforms, and changes to the teacher career model.

They also called for restoring compulsory education ending at 18 years of age, resolving tensions over wages in education system, and redressing systematic errors.

According to Hungarian News Agency MTI, speakers at the demonstration said the government's education policy was not well-thought-out and criticized the government's cost-cutting measures in the sector.

Head of the teachers' trade union Piroska Gallo said teachers have "run out of patience" and will now voice their complaints and demands "for the sake of the children". She said the government "does not understand" the problems teachers have with the education system.

Teachers in several other cities such as Budapest, Gyor, Sopron and Veszprem also held demonstrations on Wednesday.

The allied ruling Christian Democrats MP Istvan Hollik said prior to the demonstrations that for the governing parties, children and their interests are the most important. He also said that teachers are being used by parties "of the failed political left" for their own political purposes. Enditem