Thousands of students protest government reforms in Spain
28 Feb HMV News
Thousands of students have poured into the streets of the Spanish
capital, Madrid, and the city of Barcelona to protest against planned
government education reforms.
The students staged the rallies to show their anger at a new plan of
the Education Ministry known as the 3+2 Decree - that will reduce the
duration of undergraduate studies from four years to three years while
extending the duration of master’s programs from one year to two years.
The demonstrators called for the resignation of Education Minister
José Ignacio Wert Ortega, and the cancellation of the government plan.
The government argues that the measure will allow families to save up
to 168 million dollars a year and help students enter the job market
sooner.
Students, however, say the plan will only benefit the rich and will
put a financial burden on those willing to pursue postgraduate degrees,
devaluing students’ bachelor’s degrees.In Madrid, clashes broke out
between two rival groups of protesters, who took issue with each other’s
protest methods, with one of them urging peaceful demonstrations.
Similar anti-government rallies were also held in Barcelona, where a
group of protesters stormed the Stock Exchange building and pelted it
with paint and eggs. The protesters also forced their way into the
rectory of the University of Barcelona and launched an occupation of the
premises.Spain has been hit by a wave of anti-austerity demonstrations
and strikes since the country’s economy fell into recession in 2008.The
Spaniards are angry at the government’s austerity cuts, arguing that
such measures have resulted in many economic difficulties over the past
years.
|