All the major trade union federations in education criticize the statements of president Nicușor Dan regarding the possibility of redirecting funds from Education and Health to Defense and warn that such a measure would deepen the crisis in schools.
The teachers have always pointed out the underfunding of Education. PHOTO: The truth
Reactions from the education system did not take long to appear after President Nicușor Dan hinted a few days ago, in a televised intervention, that part of the Education and Health budgets could be redirected to Defense, in the context of border tensions.
The three major trade union federations – the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, the “Spiru Haret” Federation and the “Alma Mater” National Trade Union Federation – sent an open letter to the president on Thursday, November 20, expressing their disagreement with such a solution to increase the Army’s budget.
In the document, the organizations draw attention that “Defense is not developed by sacrificing Education”, rejecting the idea of a redistribution of funds from education to defense.
“We support any additional budgetary allocation for Defence, but it must come from other sources, the massive fight against tax evasion and dedicated European funds, not from teachers’ salaries, school equipment or educational infrastructure”, it is shown in the cited document.
Education is already underfunded
Union leaders remind the president that current legislation mandates a minimum level of funding for the education system.
For this reason, the unions say, any reduction in the Education budget would represent a violation of the guarantor powers of the Constitution and state laws.
In the letter addressed to the president it is clearly stated that “Romania is not allowed to cut from Education, because it is already there chronically underfunded”,
and Eurostat data show that the country still ranks last in the European Union in terms of the share of public expenditure on education in GDP, with a level of 3.3%, compared to the European average of 4.7%.
“The statement that “this is what all European countries do” to finance defense is erroneous, because the other EU Member States continue to invest in Education. Romania is not allowed to cut Education, because it is already chronically underfunded. According to the most recent Eurostat data (2023) regarding public expenditure on Education (as a percentage of GDP), Romania (with 3.3% of GDP) remains LAST in the EU in financing Education. While the EU average is about 4.7% of the GDP of the member countries, countries with well-financed defense systems demonstrate that it is possible to invest massively in both sectors, because there is a will”, the statement emphasizes.
The reaction of the education unions comes after statements by the president Nicusor Dan, made on November 16 in a show on Romania TV.
“First of all, I tell them to stay calm, because Romania is in a very strong alliance, NATO, which defends its security. (…) The second thing is that in order to be in this alliance we have to pay. (…) In short, this means that we will take part of the money from the health system, from education and we will take it to…, which is theoretically stupid, but, under these conditions, this is what we have to do for the defense industry”, is the statement of Nicuşor Dan, which triggered the dissatisfaction of the trade unionists, who believe that the solution suggested by the president has negative effects not only in the immediate, but in the long term.
“A nation cannot defend itself with an uneducated and unskilled population,” they warn.
“As a former international Olympian, you should reconsider your statement and, moreover, ensure that the law is respected, so that the education system receives 15% of the expenses of the consolidated general budget. That, if you really want Romania to have a future!”, is the call launched at the end of the communique by all the major trade union federations in education.
