CATHEDRAL: PROCESSION CARRYING COFFIN: BANNERS AND SLOGANS: DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING: STUDENTS SITTING ON GROUND.




Initials PW/V/MR/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL STUDENTS FROM BELGIAN UNIVERSITIES MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS OF ANTWERP TODAY PROTESTING AGAINST WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE THE LACK OF PROPER EDUCATION. THEY CALLED FOR THE REFORM OF THEIR STUDY SYLLABUS TO BRING THEM INTO LINE WITH THAT OF OTHER COMMON MARKET COUNTRIES.

THE BELGIAN STUDENTS SAY THEIR DEGREES ARE OF LESS VALUE THAN THOSE HELD BY STUDENTS IN THE OTHER FIVE COMMON MARKET COUNTRIES, SINCE THEIR DEGREE COURSE LASTS ONLY THREE YEARS AGAINST THE FOUR OF FIVE WHICH ARE USUAL IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES.

TODAY, THREE THOUSAND OF THEM MARCHED IN PROCESSION, CARRYING A COFFIN IN WHICH THEY HAD PUT THEIR DEGREE DIPLOMAS.

THEY MARCHED FROM THE CATHEDRAL IN THE CITY THROUGH THE STREETS AND STAGED A SIT-DOWN STRIKE AT ONE POINT.