Copenhagen, October 30 (RHC)-- Several thousand Danish protesters have marched on the parliament in the capital, Copenhagen, and other cities across the country to protest the government's decision to apply remarkable budget cuts to the education sector.

Scuffles broke out and flares were let off during the Thursday rally, which was held to protest a plan by the right-wing administration to slash education spending by around USD 1.3 billion (EUR 1.18 billion) over the next four years.

The demonstration was attended by upper secondary and university students, against whom the measures are intended. "Billion in cuts will mean big losses of quality throughout the education system, institution closures and layoffs among teachers," the organizers have written on their Facebook page, adding that it "is not about whether we can afford it, but whether politicians will prioritize resources for quality education or not."

Over 15,000 people had signed up to join the demonstration across the country.

Critics allege the measures make one in 10 teachers redundant, while the government has asserted it will apply the cuts without denting the quality of education.

The 34-member international body, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, said in a report last year that the country had spent the most of its wealth -- 7.9 percent of its gross domestic product -- on education in 2011, the latest year for which data was available.