Expatica news

More protests over education reforms threatened

24 November 2005

MADRID — Campaigners who are fighting government education reforms threatened more protests after talks collapsed with Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.  

Catholic groups and Roman Catholic Church groups promised to hold more demonstrations.

But the proposed new law is also opposed by left-wing students and teachers’ unions.

Earlier this month, riot police in Barcelona arrested 44 students after violent protests against the proposed reforms.

Students started hurling objects at the government buildings in the city.

The students claim education reforms will lead to the privatisation of the university system.

The Catholic Church and conservative groups had been hopeful talks with Zapatero would lead to some concessions.

They were granted a meeting with the prime minister after holding a huge protest march against the bill on 12 November.

Their main objections are to plans to make religious studies an optional instead of compulsory subject, the ability of parents to choose their child’s school and the financing of Catholic Church schools.

Government sources said  Zapatero was willing to make some compromises but the reform, which has entered the Spanish parliament’s upper house or Congress, “will not be withdrawn”.

The Catholic groups have not specified when the protests would take place.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news