Thousands of Ukrainian teachers protest education spending cuts

Mar 22, 2011, 11:13 GMT

Kiev - Thousands of Ukrainian teachers demonstrated in the capital Kiev on Tuesday to protest drastic cuts in education funding planned by the government.

A crowd of between six and seven thousand teachers, almost all employed in Kiev-area schools, gathered next to the cabinet of ministers building to shout anti-government slogans.

'Shame!' 'Obey The Law On Education!' and 'We'd Love To Have Your Salary!' were among the insults hurled at police and government officials approaching the crowd, who mostly were women.

Hundreds of teachers blocked Kiev's central Hrushevsky street, an avenue heavily used by senior government officials, for almost ten minutes before police pressed them back to the sidewalk.

Foul language and shoves were exchanged in the fracas. Police made no arrests.

It was the second day of demonstrations by Ukrainian teachers and students opposing a plan sponsored by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to cut the national government deficit, in part, by reducing education funding.

Azarov has said Ukraine's government lacks funds to support education at levels mandated by current law. His cost-cutting measures include ending overtime and seniority pay, reducing sick leave, closing some schools and increasing class sizes.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has named reduction of Ukraine's national budget deficit as a key pre-condition for more loans, which Azarov has said are critical to keeping the country's government solvent.

Demonstrators said senior government officials should accept salary cuts, and big business should pay more taxes, instead of reducing teacher benefits.

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