Schools close as teachers strike on December 15

A decision will be made this weekend on how many teachers will participate in a strike on December 15, but it is definite that some schools will be closed as all of their teachers will go on strike, Gábor Kerpen, president of strike organizer Democratic Trade Union of Educators (PDSZ) told magyarhirlap.hu.

Kerpen said that in some larger towns, only one school will remain open for the time of the two-hour demonstration. Local governments will announce later this week which schools will supervise students of teachers on strike, so that parents know where they can take their children on the morning of December 15.

The PDSZ confirmed on the weekend that it upholds its call for a strike. The trade union reacted to a speech held by Education Minister István Hiller, in which, according to Kerpen, Hiller did not guarantee that more teachers will not be laid off and that teachers who can keep their jobs will not be required to work more for less pay.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Hungarian Parents (Magyarországi Szülők Országos Egyesülete) is objecting to the new school book subsidy scheme. President Sándor Keszei said that the planned system is unfair, as children of single mothers would not automatically receive school books for free. He added that national parent organizations are asking MSZP faction leader Ildikó Lendvai for the party to reject this proposal.

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