Liberal democratic party D66 has stepped out of talks with the right-wing coalition on putting together a compromise deal on education cuts.

The party had been criticised for joining an alliance of opposition parties trying to temper the planned €2 billion package of cuts rather than oppose it outright.

D66 leader Rob Jetten told reporters that while the talks had led to some good moves, such as the decision to scrap higher university fees for slow students, not enough was being done in other areas.

In particular, he said D66 wanted to see higher salaries for teachers, more money for trade schools and for young researchers. D66, he said, will vote against the education budget in both houses of parliament.

The three Christian parties and far-right JA21 are continuing with the talks. Together, they have enough votes in the upper house of parliament to ensure the education budget will pass if agreement can be reached.

The right-wing coalition said on Wednesday it was prepared to make several concessions to meet opposition objections. They will reduce the amount generated by the cuts by some €600 million and as yet it is not clear how this will be paid for.

Prime minister Dick Schoof last week urged the nine parties to come up with a “total package” to settle their difference over the budget in one go. “We cannot have the same discussion week in, week out,” he said in his weekly interview with NOS.

Opposition parties have already forced a climbdown on plans to raise VAT on culture, books, newspapers and sport.

An estimated 20,000 students, lecturers and other university and college staff took part in a demonstration in the centre of The Hague on Monday in protest at the government’s planned cuts to spending on education.