The reduction of the doctorate allowance decided by the Government has reignited an old dispute about the role of the academic title in the public system. The former Minister of Education, Daniel Funeriu, intervenes in the debate and emphasizes that “the doctorate is for excellence, not for growth”.
In a country with few graduates and persistent problems of academic integrity, the discussion of PhD sport goes beyond the financial stakes and gets to the meaning of the PhD in society.
The decision adopted Tuesday night by the Government led by Ilie Bolojan does not eliminate the doctorate increase, but reduces it to approximately 500 gross lei, i.e. almost half of the previous level. The measure triggered strong reactions in the university and administrative environment, many criticisms, against the background of the fact that Romania remains the state with the lowest share of university graduates in the European Union.
A symbolic gesture came from professor and political scientist Cristian Preda, former presidential adviser, who tore up his doctorate degree live on Digi24, in protest against the decision and the way the state treats academic performance.
“PhD is for excellence, not for growth”
The former Minister of Education Daniel Funeriu also intervened in the debate, who defended the principle of eliminating the financial benefit associated with the title: “PhD is for excellence, not for growth”. He recalled, in a post on Facebook, the reform from the period of his mandate: “Through the Law of Education and the Code of Doctoral Studies, we have placed the doctorate where it belongs: as an authentic research activity, intended for the best of the good.”
Funeriu emphasized that since 2010 the increase was eliminated in the context of the salary reform: “There are no grounds for an increase granted for studies that have already been the basis of occupying a position. The state must reward work and performance, not duplicate recognitions already integrated into the system.” In his opinion, the reform meant “clear rules, high standards and zero tolerance for cheating”.
The former minister also adopted a combative tone: “I, with a handful of people, put order in a quasi-mafia system”challenging the current executive to demonstrate the same administrative courage. He later charged that the reforms were “demolished” by subsequent political decisions.
Teacher from Cluj: “incorrect and unethical growth”
From Cluj’s academic environment, Professor Daniel Mihalca from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, PhD supervisor and former CNATDCU member, claims that growth is problematic both ethically and professionally. “The quality of doctorates in Romania is often far below the level of those in other European countries”he says on Facebook, citing the underfunding of research and the lack of a solid institutional culture.
He notes that the motivations for obtaining the degree are diverse and not always academic: “Some are hunting for the doctorate for the salary increase, for management positions or for social prestige“. Instead, “the best PhDs are those motivated by a real career in research,” while poor or plagiarized work frequently occurs where the motivation is extrinsic.
The teacher considers the increase “wrong and unethical” because “it maintains a non-academic motivation, attracts people without a vocation as a researcher and creates a context for academic fraud”. He also points to an equity issue: the benefit does not exist in the private sector, which creates an artificial difference between employees.
In the case of academics, he says, the increase is unnecessary: “Nobody can be a lecturer or professor without a doctorate. It would be better to increase the salaries so that everyone is paid decently.”
The debate reveals a deeper dilemma: Is the PhD a tool of salary reward or a standard of academic excellence? For some, cutting the raise risks discouraging performance in an already underfunded system. For others, removing the financial incentives could return the title to its original purpose: the production of authentic knowledge.
The new increment value
According to the GEO adopted on February 24, 2026, the allowance for the scientific title of doctor will be 500 lei gross per month for the year 2026, granted only if the person carries out his activity in the field for which he holds the title and has objective and quantifiable duties in the job description.
Currently, the increase is capped at approximately 950 gross lei per month, which means a reduction of almost 50%. In net terms, 500 lei gross represents approximately 293 lei in hand.
