Education tensions are amplified less than two weeks before the courses start. Pre -university unions gather signatures for the boycott of the opening festivities on September 8, and the scenario of a general strike remains on the table.
Protest of Trade Unionists Photo Archive
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Daniel David, acknowledges that “it is very difficult for him to make predictions” and admits that the system needs “support and development” after overcoming the current fiscal-budgetary crisis.
Teachers refuse the festivities of the beginning of the year
After 19 consecutive days of protests in front of the Ministry of Education, the unions say that the dissatisfaction of the teachers has reached a critical level.
Marius Nistor, president of the Federation of Trade Unions Spiru Haret, said that the first day of school will no longer resemble what students and parents have known so far.
“As long as we talk about the boycott of the opening of the school year, we can no longer consider organizing any festivity to receive children in pre -university education units. The teachers, based on the signature that they will give as a result of the referendum triggered by the union federations in the pre -university, will not participate in the school. Festivities, anyway they are empty of content. he claims.
The trade union leader admitted that there is individual freedom for teachers who want to be present with their students.
“And if, however, will they be teachers who want to be with their students on the first day of school? No one stops them ”, added Marius Nistor
The new law, the main cause of the conflict
The dissatisfaction of the teachers has as central point Law no.141/2025, adopted this summer, which brings major changes: increasing the didactic norm, combining school units, reducing the hourly payment, but also increasing the number of students in a class. Teachers warn that the effects of this law will be seen quickly, including decreasing the attractiveness of the profession.
Marius Lobază, a teacher at the Banat National College Timisoara, describes the situation as “a disaster”:
“In two or three years we will no longer have teachers at the chairs. As long as we, this year, have been riding the young people in education, these measures for this, actually led the young people in education, I do not know, really, who will take over the chairs of those who retire. The young people who were qualified substitutes, special teachers, had to leave, look for other parts. Some have found, others not. We will find them as a taxi drivers or as a seller at the shop ”he says.
The ministry tries to calm the spirits
In reply, the Minister of Education, Daniel David, said he does not have a clear image on the extent of the protest:
“What will happen, the truth is that I do not know, it is very difficult for me to make predictions. It will probably be a boycott, I do not know why, there will be segments with different attitudes on the first day of school. I do not know what is the magnitude of this process.”said Daniel David.
At the same time, he transmitted that the background message of the protesters must be understood: “From their protest, an important protest, it must be understood that education, after passing this period of fiscal-budgetary crisis, education will need support and development.”
The general strike, delayed scenario
The unions do not exclude the trigger of a general strike, but at least for the moment the strategy is oriented towards the boycott of the first day of school and the organization of a national protest in Bucharest.
Marius Lobaza believes that a general strike would be more effective at a key moment:
“I do not know if the general strike is a solution at the moment, I think there are other tools that we can create pressure. (…) At one point, but not now, in the autumn. Around some exams create higher pressure, as it is, for example, in summer.”
The march of education and the pressure on the government
Starting September 3, the protests will move in front of the Victoria Palace, and on September 8, the unions prepare the “march of education” in the Capital, at the same time with similar actions in the main cities in the country.
The message of the trade union leaders is clear: without a concrete response to the claims, the first day of school will be marked not by festivities, but by protests.
