Thousands of teachers protest education reforms in Hungary
Thousands of teachers have taken to the streets across Hungary, including in the capital, to protests educational reforms which they consider as oppressive.
A torchlight march under steady rain in the eastern city of Miskolc drew some 5,000 people, including trade unions.
They demonstrated against Prime Minister Viktor Orban's policies of increasing direct state control over ever more aspects of Hungarian life.
Smaller demonstrations in solidarity with the Miskolc-based protesters took place simultaneously in ten cities around the country including the capital Budapest.
The Orban government, in power since 2010, took control of schools from local authorities three years ago.
A central body now regulates all aspects of education, down to procuring chalk for rural elementary schools.
Teachers say too much of their time is spent on administration tasks, and complain that wages have not been increased for many years.
Reacting to the rallies, authorities promised to cut teachers' administrative burdens and launch consultations with teacher, parent and student representatives.
The government fears the rallies could lead to a wider wave of demonstrations and discontent.
A protest is scheduled to be held at the parliament building by one of Hungary’s largest teacher trade unions on February 13.
“There is potential for this protest to become the starting point of more rallies,” Csaba Toth, an analyst and director of Republikon Institute in Budapest, told the Associated Press.
"It depends greatly on what will happen" at the next demonstration, he said.
Ukraine’s Zelensky pleas for Patriot missiles, NATO membership
Russian forces take over village in Donetsk: Report
Russia says shot down 17 Ukrainian drones
VIDEO | Pakistan intensifies crackdown against Afghan migrants amid 'security threats'
VIDEO | Paris protest demands ban for Israel at Summer Olympics
VIDEO | Yemeni armed forces intensify naval operations
US police enter Columbia University to clear pro-Palestinian protesters
VIDEO | South Koreans sue Israeli leaders of war crimes in Gaza
UN: Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would be 'tragedy beyond words'
VIDEO | University students in Lebanon hold pro-Palestine demos
VIDEO | Crackdown on pro-Palestine students
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
