LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Thousands of teachers from around Portugal are marching in downtown Lisbon to protest proposed spending cuts they say will slash €1 billion ($1.3 billion) from theeducation budget.
Unions say the government plans to privatize many public schoolsand cut around 50,000 sector jobs.
Union spokesman Mario Nogueira says the plans revealed in a recent document from the International Monetary Fund would "mean the end of a free and inclusive public school system."
Portugal, which is headed for a third straight year of recession, needed a €78 billion lifeline in May 2011 to avert bankruptcy and has a jobless rate of 16.3 percent. Austerity measures have triggered many strikes and protests.
It was the third country that uses the euro to require an international bailout to deal with its debts.
I have been to Portugal and had a wonderful time. The Portuguese are nice average people, like in all other countries of the world who just want a fair shake at life. The Euro and the world economy have been a disaster; and greedy politicians and huge corporations are the major blame
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