On November 21 2007, the teachers’ strike committee organises national protest against the draft-budget 2008.

The protest was being held in front of the Parliament, where the draft-budget would be discussed on first reading, Bulgarian news agency BTA reported.

The teachers unions disagree with the sum allocated for education in Budget 2008.

According to the draft-budget, the education system would receive 4.2 per cent of the GDP, while the teachers’ unions demand the sum to be at least 4.7 per cent of the GDP.

Bigger percentage of the GDP allocated for education would guarantee increase in the allowance for one student from 933 to 1381 leva.

The Cabinet was “condemning the education system employees to low income” in 2008, unions said.

The strike committee expected nearly 3000 people from all over Bulgaria to take part in the protest on November 21, BTA said. The protest would not affect classes, it said.

Representatives of Bulgarian universities and the Bulgarian Academy of Science and young scientists would also in Sofia, respectively in front of the monument of St. Kliment Ohridski and in front of the Parliament, Focus news agency said.