Sao Paulo, November 18 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Teachers and high-school students occupied more then 40 public schools throughout the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo on Tuesday protesting against the planned closure of some 93 schools, a measure proposed by state governor Geraldo Alckmin.

The teacher-student occupation began last week over fears that the proposed changes will lead to overcrowded classrooms, the dismissal of teachers and reduced salaries.

The teachers, who are demanding higher pay and the end to already overcrowded classrooms, accuse the Sao Paulo state governor, Geraldo Alckmin, of failing to address their demands.

“The Alckmin administration initiated a process of closing and ‘reorganizing’ schools with the purpose of reducing costs and streamlining public administration, which effectively grants fewer rights and less public services for the population who needs it most,” stated the Sao Paulo Teachers Union (APEOESP) press release.

Under Brazilian law, states and municipalities are required to allocate 25 percent of their budget to education, but cuts to the federal government’s funding of state and municipal authorities have resulted in cuts to local education budgets.

Support from members of the Brazilian education community played a key role in securing Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s reelection last October. She vowed to make education a key priority during her second term as the country’s head of state.

In 2013, the Brazilian government passed an oil royalty law, which diverts 75 percent of oil royalties toward the education sector and 25 percent toward health.

As a result, the government hopes to increase public expenditure on education as a percentage of total GDP from 6.4 percent in 2014 to 10 percent in 2024.