Portuguese students protest govt education cuts

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-3-22 11:32:36

Hundreds of college students on Thursday protested against the Portuguese government's steep cuts in education expenses such as scholarships and financial aids in the downtown of Lisbon.

Students from Lisbon University and Porto University participated in the three-kilometer march organized by Portugal's College Student Confederation.

"Currently more and more students are forced to leave the campus due to the government's reduction of scholarships. We are expressing our strong discontent to the government and demanding the government increase investment in education," said 19-year-old student from Lisbon University who identified herself as Rita.

The students marched from the Marques de Pombal Square in downtown Lisbon towards the country's Parliament building and the Prime Minister's Office.

Holding high placards, they chanted slogans and sang songs all the way while demanding the government to increase education investments as well as scholarships and financial aids for college students.

Portugal is implementing harsh austerity measures in return for the bailout of 78 billion euros (about 101 billion US dollars) from the troika comprising the European Union, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank. The government's move has triggered widespread protests across the country in recent months.

Posted in: Europe

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