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Hungarian teachers strike against government, demand reforms

BUDAPEST — Thousands of teachers in Hungary held a one-day strike Wednesday against Prime Minister Viktor Orban's centralization of the education system.

The strike, the first major one against Orban's conservative government since its return to power in 2010, was announced by the country's largest teachers' union.

Union leader Piroska Gallo said nearly 25,000 teachers in 1,185 schools had taken part, or around 20 percent of all teachers and schools.

Many of the striking teachers, who are expected to lose a day's pay, wore checkered shirts — a symbol of their protests. Marches and two shorter strikes were also held in recent months.

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''This is a way to put pressure'' on the authorities, said Eva Gombos of the ELTE Agoston Trefort Training Gymnasium. ''It could be munition for those who are negotiating.''

Teachers say overburdened students, the lack of choice in textbooks, and the inflexible curriculum were among their biggest concerns.

The government has promised some concessions, including fewer classes for students and less administrative work.

Associated Press