The geography discipline “disappeared” among the subjects studied in the 11th and 12th grades, according to the framework plan projects for the high school launched in public debate by the Ministry of Education and Research, warned, on Monday, the Romanian Geography Society.
The discipline “Geography”, in danger of disappearing in classes XI-XII: Adevărul
“Precisely while the Romanian Geography Society prepares the 150th anniversary of its establishment and receives confirmations to participate in dozens of great geographical personalities from all over the world, we find that geography has simply disappeared from the disciplines studied in the classes of XI and XII, according to the new framework plan projects for high school, launched in public debate. Geography is the discipline that has lost after 1990 most hours of pre -university education, although more and more globalization is spoken, climatic changes, industrial revolutions, territorial disappearances, geopolitics, pollution, territorial planning, etc. “, It is shown in an open letter of the association addressed to the Minister of Education and Research, Daniel David.
The signatories request the preservation of geography in the common trunk in the 11th and 12th grades, as a result of its importance in the formation of students: “Critical thinking, understanding of the world in which we live, of nature in general. “
“With the diplomas and prizes won at international competitions – geography Olympics, Earth Sciences – We can symbolically surround the entire border of Romania. No other discipline has brought so many international awards and so much international visibility for the Romanian school. (…) inexplicable and sad this decision taken by a group of so-called experts, a group of which no geographer was a part and, therefore, they could present their point of view “is highlighted in the letter.
According to the signatories, values such as the formation of a culture, an identity consciousness are no longer possible provided that geography is no longer an object of study in the 11th and 12th grades.
“The consequences will be long -term dramatic on the student formation. Geography is more than a science about earth and man. Geography is a fundamental science between the sciences of nature, with an essential role in the formation of a general culture, but also of practical skills usable in daily life. Geography is an applied science that forms and develops respect for democratic values. (…) A people who do not know their history is condemned to repeat it, a people who do not know their geography is condemned to uprooting and losing identity “, He also transmitted the Geography Society in Romania.
The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Education and Research Bogdan Cristescu explained, referring to the framework plans put into consultation, that no discipline has been eliminated.
“One of the things we feel the need to point out is that the definition of the common trunk has been modified. So, we ask colleagues that when they look in these framework plans, no longer look at the common trunk with the same eyes with which they look at the common trunk in force. The Education Law has changed the common trunk And then this common trunk is valid for all high school students in Romania, as opposed to the current situation, in force, when the common trunk was characteristic only to the chains. (…) By proposal the project-frame project the common trunk is unique to all “, said the Secretary of State.
According to the Secretary of State, “No discipline was removed, in any form the disciplines were not eliminated or removed. What intervened, the same character was removed, unique to all the students in terms of content”, He said Cristescu, who participated in a live information session on the framework plans for high school put into public debate by the Minister of Education and Research.
