GROUPS OF TEACHERS WERE HOLDING DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROTEST MARCHES IN LIMA, OCT 20, ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF A NATION-WIDE PERUVIAN TEACHER'S STRIKE FOR SALARY INCREASES. TO UNDERLINE THE URGENCY OF THE MATTER, TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WERE ASKED TO JOIN A HUNGER STRIKE STARTED BY SOME OF THEIR COLLEAGUES IN LIMA ON OCT 17.

PERU'S TEACHERS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR MORE MONEY EVER SINCE 1957. STATE TEACHERS WENT ON STRIKE FOR A MONTH A YEAR AGO, AND THIS YEAR THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATED ABOUT GBP23 1/4 MILLION - THE SECOND HIGHEST ESTIMATE IN THE BUDGET - FOR EDUCATION.

PART OF THE ALLOCATION WAS TO BE USED TO COVER TEACHERS' PAY INCREASES GRANTED LAST YEAR. BUT THERE WERE DELAYS IN PAYING OUT THE INCREASES AND THE TEACHERS CLAIMED THAT, IN VIEW OF RISING PRICES, THE ALLOCATED MONEYS WERE NOT SUFFICIENT.

AFTER A MASS PROTEST IN LIMA, OCT 10, DEMONSTRATIONS WERE BANNED. NOW THE TEACHERS MEET IN GROUPS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF LIMA TO HOLD IMPROVISED RALLIES. THEIR SLOGANS ARE "THE SCHOOL IS THE STATE", "JUSTICE FOR THE PERUVIAN TEACHER", AND "DOWN WITH PRIME MINISTER BELTRAN". THEY HAVE THREATENED THAT, IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT MEET THEIR DEMANDS IMMEDIATELY, THEY WILL STATE A "MARCH ON LIMA" ON OCT. 25.