Italy: 50,000 students, teachers and parents march over cuts, privatisation

As many as 50,000 students, teachers and parents marched in Rome Saturday over cuts and a creeping privatisation process in Italy’s schools, and demanded the resignation of education minister Francesco Profumo.

‘Promote education not the bankers,’ the protestors chanted as they reiterated demands for the withdrawal of cuts to the education budget, measures that open the way to privateers in schools, and new barriers to teachers on casual contracts obtaining secure employment.

The students and teachers, who have become increasingly restive, pledged to join the European wide strikes and anti-austerity protests planned for November 14.

Seperately education staff  held a ‘flash mob’ protest in Bologna against the government for policies that ‘humiliate teachers.’

Photos of Rome demonstrations and video

More on education protests in Italy