Published: 2023-06-22
A protest calling for higher teacher wages in Hungary took place in front of Parliament in Budapest, with representatives of teacher and student organisations and unions gathering to speak out against a new education law.
Hollywood actor joins teachers’ protest
Hungarian-American actor, Dean Norris, who starred in Breaking Bad as Hank Shrader, was seen at the protest for higher teacher pay in Budapest. Norris, who is of Hungarian origins, has been vacationing in the country with his children and expressed support for their struggle by joining the demonstration.
Proposed education law criticised
The protesters were speaking out against a proposal to modify the education law, which many say would severely limit the rights of teachers and students and damage Hungary’s education system. Critics argued that teachers had not been consulted during the drafting of the law and accused the government of lying about the extent of consultations that had taken place.
Opposition parties voice concern
Representatives of opposition parties including the Socialists, the Democratic Coalition, the Jobbik-Conservatives, LMP, and Párbeszéd addressed the demonstration, with each party criticising the government for its handling of the education law. Speakers accused the government of “lying” and accused it of trying to turn students into “wage slaves.”
Calls for government to raise teacher salaries
The protests ended with calls for the government to raise teacher wages in Hungary. With teacher and student organisations and unions expressing concern over the negative impact of the new proposal on the country’s future, it is hoped that their concerns will be addressed by lawmakers in the coming weeks.
Questions & Answers
Who is Hank Shrader and what was he doing in Budapest? Hank Shrader is a character in the TV show Breaking Bad. The actor who plays him, Dean Norris, was in Budapest and joined a protest for higher teacher pay in Hungary.
Why did the protesters in Budapest demonstrate for higher teacher pay? The protesters in Budapest demonstrated for higher teacher pay because of the dramatically low wages of Hungarian teachers. The new education law modification by the government is seen to make life even more difficult for people in this profession.
Who participated in the demonstration in Budapest for higher teacher pay? The demonstration in Budapest for higher teacher pay was attended by representatives of teacher and student organizations and unions, students and teachers, opposition party representatives, and supporters such as actor Dean Norris.
What did the amendment proposal debated in Parliament in Hungary entail regarding the teachers' career paths? The amendment proposal debated in Parliament in Hungary regarding the teachers' career paths severely curbed the rights of teachers and students, according to protesters. The proposal was seen as causing irreversible damage and destroying the country's future while setting Hungary's education system back decades.
Which organization was responsible for organizing the demonstration in Budapest calling for higher teacher pay in Hungary? The Tanítanék (I want to teach) movement and the United Student Front were responsible for organizing the demonstration in Budapest calling for higher teacher pay in Hungary.
Who else, besides Hank Shrader, has participated in a Hungarian demonstration recently? Eddie Redmayne has also participated in a Hungarian demonstration recently.
What did Hank Shrader do while participating in the teacher pay protest in Budapest? Hank Shrader, or actor Dean Norris, expressed his support for the protesters in Budapest, and he also took a selfie with András Fekete-Győr, the former chairman of Momentum, who gave him a quick Hungarian political crash course.