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Thousands of teachers, parents and lecturers from across Scotland have been marching in Glasgow in a protest against cuts to education budgets. The march and rally was organised by teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS). Its members are angry at proposed job losses, school closures and reductions in resources. The Scottish government said the cuts had come from Westminster and it was up to councils to decide their budgets. The EIS has begun a campaign entitled "Why must our children pay?" Union bosses said pupils and students should not be faced with cutbacks in order to pay for "the bail-out of failed financial institutions". EIS president Helen Connor, told marchers that the demonstration was only the beginning. She said: "Now, we must build on this strong support today and build a long-term campaign to defend Scottish education and to protect the level of funding invested in our schools, colleges and universities. "Our young people are worth that investment, and the future prosperity of our country depends on these very same young people. "By cutting back funding now, by seeking the cheap option to their education, the government will damage not only our children's futures but the future of our entire country. We simply cannot allow that to happen." She also criticised the Scottish government's record, saying there were 2,500 fewer teachers than when the SNP came to power. The union's general secretary, Ronnie Smith, added: "Our schools, colleges and universities perform very well and offer a high-quality education to children and young people of all backgrounds and from all parts of the country. "They do so without big bail-outs or bonuses, with teams of highly skilled and dedicated staff who are motivated not by the size of their pay packet but by the genuine desire to provide the best opportunity for our young people. "Money allocated to education is not a cost, but an investment in our children and in the future prosperity of our entire country." John Stodter, from the umbrella group Directors of Education in Scotland, said: "Education authorities are making significant reductions this year and they anticipate a really bad time over the next five years. "We are looking at cuts that could be the worst in the 30 years that I have been involved in education." Education secretary Mike Russell called on anyone with an interest in education to unite against "Westminster cuts". He said: "So far, education has been protected by the SNP government with councils reporting planned increases of 2.6% this year. "That has delivered record levels of spending per pupil - at levels significantly higher than south of the border - but this will be under real threat if the Westminster parties get their way and impose 'savage cuts' on Scotland."