Thousands of Hungarians rallied in the Hungarian capital Budapest to protest a new law depriving teachers of the status of civil servants, as well as the use of tear gas by police against teenagers at previous demonstrations. It is reported by Press TV.
The protest came after a series of rallies and strikes to raise wages and improve working conditions for teachers. According to 2021 data, Hungary’s inflation rate, which is now at 24 percent, has led to a decline in teachers’ salaries, which were already below the national average and ranked second among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
“Protesters have marched against the new so-called status law, which also greatly increases the burden on teachers. Critics are calling the bill the “Revenge Act,” which is seen as punishing teachers for years of resistance.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government claims the bill is “aimed at improving the quality of education.” Nearly 5,000 teachers have already said they will quit their jobs if the status quo law comes into force.
“The government should be able to finance its education system from the national budget, and that low wages and poor working conditions have led to a severe shortage of teachers in the country,” the report says.
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