A new school year starts today for over 1.2 million Catalan students but arguments and protests mark its beginning (read article in Castilian here, El Pais). The new term will be met with protests from trade unions and parent associations over cuts, delayed arrivals of computer equipment and organisational problems over holidays. One of the main points of contention is with the delay in computer equipment - of the 606 schools which give lessons on laptops, a quarter will not be able to do so today. The education department had advised them by letter in early June that they would be able to start the laptop conversions once the term started but to not throw away textbooks until they had their internet connection. However the CCOO and the UGT trade unions and some centres have reported delays in the arrival of computers and say that today, some schools will start without the appropriate equipment and no teaching material. This will also be the first term in which the Semana blanca (White week) will come into place. This is a compulsory school break during the term. Some areas will take it between February 28th and March 4th whilst others from March 7th to 11th. This is to take the place of the jornada intensive which has been terminated. Many schools had the option of starting earlier to finish earlier in the month of June. The decision to stop this practice have sparked protests from trade unions, who say that these days are usually very hot in the classroom. Teachers are also facing wage cuts from between €900 and €1900 between June and December this year.