Dutch quell school hours protest

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Twenty-eight school students will face public order charges in Amsterdam, following violent street protests, Dutch police say.

Police clashed with about 1,000 teenagers in Amsterdam on Monday, using water cannon to disperse the crowd after being pelted with eggs and cans.

Police spokesman Arnout Aben said 28 were briefly detained and would face charges for public order offences.

Students oppose a new statutory annual minimum of 1,040 hours of classes.

The Netherlands education ministry says the increase in study time is needed to raise standards.

Students argue that schools lack the resources to keep them usefully occupied in class during the extra 26 hours a year.

Student protests also took place on Monday in The Hague, Eindhoven and Middelburg.

Mr Aben told the BBC News website that the students had "mobilised using internet chatrooms".