Sao Paulo, December 5 (teleSUR-RHC)-- A Brazilian Judge suspended a controversial measure on Friday that would have resulted in the closure of around 93 schools affecting more then 300,000 students across the state of Sao Paulo. 

The legal injunction, which was handed down by Brazilian judge Iberê Castro Dias on Friday, concluded that the proposed legislative measure would have represented a violation of the country’s constitution based on the government’s failure to conduct prior consultation with the effected communities. 

"Moving forward, we will engage in dialogue on a school- by- school basis. The year 2016 will be the year of deepening dialogue with communities, students and especially parents,” Alckmin said during a public address following the court ruling. 

The controversial measure, which was originally proposed by the Sao Paulo state governor Geraldo Alckmin, was bitterly opposed by students and teachers on the grounds that the proposed changes would have lead to overcrowded classrooms, the dismissal of teachers, salary reductions and longer commute times. 

The Sao Paulo governor first unveiled the school restructuring proposal last October announcing the closure of of 93 public schools in the greater São Paulo area in the name of “fiscal responsibility.”

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.

The proposal sparked outrage among educators and students prompting large-scale protests as well as student-led occupations of more then 170 schools throughout the state of Sao Paulo. The occupiers list of demands included a greater level of input in the restructuring, and more transparency.

Friday’s ruling also coincides with a new survey conducted by Datafolha poll, which revealed a sharp drop in public support for the Sao Paulo governor. The poll showed a 20 percent decrease in positive approval ratings compared to a poll carried out last November. The same poll found that 61 percent of those surveyed  were against the proposed school closures.