Scandal in sector 2 of the Capital. Parents of students who study in several schools in the area accuse the local authorities of discrimination. The apple of discord? “School after School” program. Although it is free, parents are obliged by the city hall to contribute financially so that the students can benefit from the additional hours offered through this project.
“School after School” is a free program. Photo source: archive
More than a month after the start of school, in Sector 2 of the Capital, the “School after school” program is operating in emergency mode, with the risk of being suspended. “Although the program is free, the mayor’s office asks parents to contribute financially as well. Many, however, cannot afford this luxury. It is the reason why in many educational units the time allocated to extra hours has been reduced, and in other schools the project is blocked”explained for “Adevărul” Iuliana Constantinescu, the president of the parents of the “Lucian Blaga” Theoretical High School.
Many schools, little money. Father: “We stretch as far as our quilt”
Currently, 16 educational units from sector 2 participate in this program.Their numbers grew exponentially as schools discovered they could get money from the district town hall. And obviously they had space to hold these classes. Because space is a big problem. The schools where there is no space get money for nothing, because the project is dead from the start”, the representative of the parents also said.
The amounts of money allocated have also increased from year to year. “But unfortunately not enough. In the beginning, we had 30 lei, then 35 lei, now we have reached 40 lei per day for each student. This money includes the children’s food, the hot meal provided for in the project, as well as the salary of the teachers who work these extra hours”.
“School after school” means that students who have completed the program stay with the teacher or teacher for another three hours, during which they have a hot meal and do educational activities. Theoretical. In practice, in sector 2 things are different. “The financing of the program is done by the local public administration from extrabudgetary sources, donations, sponsorships or through the financial support of parents’ associations. But, because this money is not enough, the children’s parents are invited to contribute financially as well. In addition to the fact that it is illegal to take money from parents, the program being a free one, many of them actually have nowhere to give. That’s why the children’s schedule has become shorter and shorter. The three hours are no longer three hours. Basically, we stretch out as much as our duvet covers”confesses Iuliana Constantinescu.
Concretely, at the “Lucian Blaga” College, until last year, the three additional hours were covered to the limit with the money from the town hall, the efforts of the teaching staff and tenders with the company that provided hot meals for small amounts. “We’ve made it to the limit, without the input of the parents. Last year, however, we reduced the children’s program to 2 and a half hours, this year we should fit in two hours”.
“People who should be protected are being asked for money”
Iuliana Constantinescu stated that it is not normal for the town hall to ask parents for money, since the “School after school” program is free. “The funding regulations provide very clearly: the full coverage of the costs for the three-hour program, a program provided by order of the minister, and parents who want more than the three hours obviously, they pay. It is normal to be like this. However, for the program regulated by ministerial order, there must be funding. Thus, parents who cannot afford that co-payment are discriminated against. Needless to say, this program is dedicated to the prevention and reduction of school dropout, which has as its target group students from disadvantaged, vulnerable backgrounds. Well, what do we do then? Are we asking for money from people we are supposed to protect?”, asks the father.
The program started without the approval of the financing regulation
At “Lucian Blaga” College, over 200 students are enrolled in the “School after school” program. “There are 10 primary education classes. This year, the program started with the promise that by the time the financing for September will be done – the money should have been transferred by October 10 – there will also be a financing regulation, the necessary amounts will be allocated . We are still waiting”.
In conclusion, at the moment “School after school” at “Lucian Blaga” college is working, but it is not known what budget will be allocated to this project. “For now, the children have a hot meal provided with the money we had left over from last year. We managed to make some savings. As for the teachers, they came to terms with the idea that in September they may have volunteered”says Iuliana Constantinescu. “But in other schools in the sector, in the absence of a funding regulation, the program is blocked. There are directors who don’t take any risks”the father also specified.
In the “School after school” program there is no minimum or maximum number of students regulated. “Anyone who wants to register. There are schools where all the children in a class participate, there are schools where, for various reasons, only a certain number has been established. I know schools where there are 12 students in a group, but we also have educational units where there are 27-28 students. The program is dedicated to primary and secondary school classes”.
The City Hall of Sector 2 promised that by October 23, it will put on the agenda of the Local Council meeting a new regulation with the new eligibility and funding conditions for this school year.
