The Ministry of Education has announced the modification of the minimum and maximum limits for the number of students in a class. The decision comes in the context of the fiscal-budgetary measures and completes the reorganization of the 507 educational units and the increase of the didactic norm for the teachers.
Daniel David has announced new changes to the photo gov.ro
The principle of “rationality”, invoked by the minister
“Minister Daniel David has repeatedly stated that, although he understands the crisis conditions, the minimum and maximum limits of the classes can only be established on the basis of the principle of rationality, understanding by this we do not get out of certain European/international landmarks or recent national practices.”the Ministry of Education said.
According to the new provisions, the classes from the primary cycle will have at least 12 students and a maximum of 24, those of secondary school between 12 and 28, and in high school between 16 and 30.
“The minimum limits can be lowered by 2, and the maximum increased ones by no more than 4 (with the agreement of the County School Inspectorate). The ministry will not encourage maximum increases, and the reduction of the number of classes depending on the number of children with special educational requirements has remained in force”states the institution.
Daniel David has invoked European landmarks and international studies that show that the class size matters less for performance.
“It is possible that these fiscal-budgetary measures may slightly increase the share of simultaneous education (at primary and secondary level), in the estimation of the ministry from 6% to 7.5%. Again, this percentage does not come out of various European landmarks. For example, simultaneous education can also be found in France or Ireland, especially in the primary cycle, even higher than in Romania (…). It is true, however, that such education also requires specific skills in teaching-learning, which is a key objective for the Ministry of Education and Research“is shown in the statement.
What classes will be reorganized
Officials admit that changes will mainly affect the very small classes, with under 10 students, which until now worked as exceptions. Basically, these very small classes will be combined, which affects around 0.5% of the total classes. Otherwise, the majority already falls within the new limits.
“Indeed, this approach to modify the minimum and maximum limits for the number of children in the class affected especially the classes with 8 or 9 children (ie about 0.5% of the total primary and secondary school classes of the 2024 – 2025 school year) and, to a lesser extent, some classes at the high school level. 12 classes with 1 student, 26 classes with 2 students, 52 classes with 3 students, 64 classes with 4 students, 84 classes with 5 students, 92 classes with 6 students and 107 classes with 7 students, a model that will be reorganized in turn ”the Ministry of Education said.
Threats with boycot
Against the background of austerity measures, adopted in the last period, the Minister of Education has admitted that the beginning of the school year 2025–2026 could be tense.
“What will happen, the truth is I don’t know. It is very difficult for me to make predictions. It will probably be a boycott, I don’t know why. Probably there will be segments with different attitudes on the first day of school. I do not know what the magnitude of this process is, I do not know if they will not be in other school areas that will usually work … “said Daniel David.
He explained that education was included in the first budget correction package because the school year begins on September 8:
“It must be understood that education after passing this period of fiscal-budgetary crisis, education entered the first package not that someone wanted someone, but because we start on September 8 and then these measures had to be taken, education will need support and development.”
The minister also drew attention to the unusual situations discovered in the system:
“We have at this moment, for example, hundreds of classes at national level, over 400, with children in the eighth grade where you have classes with a child, with two children, three, four children up to seven children. It is not normal to have the 8th grade with two children or a child.”said Daniel David.
Pressure of the fiscal-budgetary crisis
Daniel David acknowledged that he accepted the harsh measures for school aware of the economic effects.
“That is why I stayed a lighthouse from July 8 until August 15, I did not talk so much and did not enter various debates and discussions, because I knew that if education shows signs of agitation, we have problems with the S&P evaluation and with the Fitch assessment on August 15. scholarships to us, and throughout the country’s system, including for pensions and social aid ”said the minister.
He added that it is not the preferred but inevitable measure:
“Why do I, as a minister, have to take these measures? That I did not contribute to that major deficit. (…) If we do not take these crisis measures, we block our system and we risk the whole country. It is not something I like, but that is the truth.”
Finally, Daniel David acknowledged that “several times” took into account the possibility of resignation, but continued the mandate in order not to block the educational system and not to “risk the whole country”.
