Checkered shirt protest in Hungary

Teachers and pupils were wearing checkered shirts in schools all around Hungary, protesting against a recent slur at teachers by a former Hungarian government offical. In solidarity, many others, including well-known Hungarian personalities, the Hungarian professors and students of the University of Cambridge, and even a governing party MP, have joined the protest.

Teachers "unshaven, dishevelled and in checkered shirts" at demonstrations do not set a good example for children, former education state secretary of the Orbán government, István Klinghammer said recently in a newspaper interview, condemning a wave of demonstrations by teachers against the education policy of the government.

In response, tens of thousands of teachers and pupils in schools around the country posed for photos wearing checkered shirts to protest the words of the ex-official.

This is the latest move in the revolt over poor working conditions as well as for a reversal of the centralization of the education system that began after the 2010 elections.

Teachers' unions laid down a petition of 25 points that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called in parliament as a simple wage demand. This interpretation was flatly denied by the teachers' strike committe that also stated that teachers are aware of the regulations in force and also expect governing politicians to respect the law rather than spreading unfounded accusations.