Spanish teachers strike in Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid

Teachers in secondary schools and various other educational centers in the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha joined their companions in Madrid on strike Wednesday. Wednesday sees the fourth day of strike action by secondary school teachers in Madrid and follows on from Tuesday's day of action which ended with a march through the streets of the capital in which thousands of teachers, pupils and parents protested once more against the cuts of 80 million euros in the region's education budget. Another day of strike action is programmed in Madrid for Oct. 20 and that will be accompanied by another demonstration in the capital. Estimates of the numbers of teachers adhering to the call to strike vary, with the Madrid educational authority insisting just 32 percent of secondary school teachers in the region were on strike while the teachers' unions put that figure at 72 percent. Teachers that Xinhua talked to on Tuesday's march all said that over 50 percent of those working at their respective schools had heeded the strike call. More activities have also been planned for the coming day as the teachers continue to protest against cuts that will increase their number of classroom hours, see laboratories closed and also the cancellation of 'link-up' classes aimed at helping non-Spanish speaking children adapt to the education system. There are plans to form a human chain on Oct. 13 around the offices of the regional educational authority in Madrid, while teachers in Galicia are set to organize protests in their schools during break times on Oct. 11. Teachers in Navarra will also be on strike on Oct. 27.