Schools fight back

MASS protests will be held during the next school term over the state government's proposed $1.7 billion cuts to education.

The offices of Coalition MPs will be targeted as the NSW Teachers' Federation musters community outrage over the costs, which will impact on jobs and school budgets.

The federation announced yesterday it would organise unprecedented community protest action in Sydney and major regional centres such as Tamworth on a weekend during term four.

It said protests would be held at various locations, including outside the offices of state MPs, near TAFE campuses and other highly-visible public venues.

Federation president Maurie Mulheron said the action was part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure community outrage was harnessed in the interests of an ongoing campaign to reverse the government's decision.

He said it was the biggest attack on public schools and TAFE colleges in decades.

The federation will also launch a TV, radio, print and online advertising blitz to promote the campaign.

The cuts, announced by the O'Farrell government last week, will see 1800 public sector jobs go in the education department and at TAFE, while independent schools will have funding frozen for the next four years.

The decision to take such action was made at a state executive meeting involving 15 classroom teachers and principals yesterday.

Mr Mulheron said it had decided on a large community protest instead of a strike because the issue

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