Spanish education

Look at the picture. Describe it.

• What can you see?
  · What are they doing?
  · What are they wearing?
  · What is the situation of Education in Spain?
  · Why are the students protesting?
  · What’s your opinion about these protests and strikes?
  
  VOCABULARY
  DEMONSTRATION PROTEST BANNER BUDGET DEMONSTRATORS SPENDING CUTS UNIONS STRIKES SCABS

Match each word with the corresponding Spanish translation:
Esquiroles/ manifestación/ sindicatos/ pancartas/ recortes/protestar/ huelgas/ presupuesto/manifestantes

Thousands of students protest Spanish education cuts
Thousands of high school students massed in Madrid streets Thursday to protest against education spending cuts by the Spanish capital's regional government.
The protesters marched through the centre behind a banner that read "Defend public education, make cuts for bankers" until they reached the Puerta del Sol square.
"Yes, there is money, but the bankers have it," and "Less vultures and more desks", were among the slogans chanted by the demonstrators.
Between 3,000-4,000 students took part in the protest. Many wore matching green T-shirts with slogans in defense of public education that have become a symbol of the growing protest against the education spending cuts by the Madrid region's conservative government.
"We have less teachers this year, they closed the library because there is no one to work at it," said 16-year-old high school student Alicia Fernandez.
High school students were called on to strike and protest on Thursday in 35 Spanish cities by their nationwide union.
In Madrid 85 percent of students boycotted classes, according to organizers.
In Barcelona some 2,000 high school students took part in a march through the centre of the city. Organizers put the figure at 15,000.
High school teachers in the Madrid region plan to strike for the sixth time against the spending cuts on October 20.
Teachers, students and parents from across Spain will descend on Madrid on October 22 for a protest against education spending cuts.
Pressed by the ruling Socialist central government to shore up their balance sheets, Spain's 17 regional governments have cut healthcare and education spending.
The overall budget deficit for the 17 regions amounted to 1.2 percent of gross domestic product at the end of the first half, close to the target of 1.3 percent for the entire year.
Government spending on public services is emerging as a central campaign theme ahead of a November 20 general election.