Three of the largest Trade Union Federations in Education-FSLI, Spiru Haret and Alma Mater-addressed on Thursday, July 24, a public appeal to the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, asking them not to promulgate the law on fiscal-budgetary measures assumed by the Bolojan Government. The trade unionists warn that the new provisions will have disastrous effects on Romanian education, affecting both teachers, students and students.
Photo from Protest FSLI, 2023. Photo: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea
The common call is entitled “Mr. President, do not be a part of the destruction of Romanian education!” And it is signed by the leaders of the three federations: Simion Hăncescu (FSLI), Marius Nistor (Spiru Haret) and Anton Hadăr (Alma Mater). They request that the law be returned to the Parliament, to eliminate articles that affect the educational system.
“The measures in the field of pre -university and superior education established by the executive, if they are put into practice, will seriously affect both the employees and the beneficiaries of education”, warns the trade unionists.
The growth of the norm and agglomeration of classes, among the most challenged measures
The unions challenge the increase of the didactic norm from 18 to 20 hours per week and draw attention to the negative effects of increasing the number of students per class. The analysis carried out by the Institute of Education Sciences (IŞE), invoked in support of their position, shows that the current norm is aligned with the European Union average, and the increase will take Romania over this level.
“By increasing the didactic norm by two hours, Romania will be placed above the average registered at European level. The agglomeration of classes will lead to a decrease in the results of the students, including international assessments, as it results from the International Studies Timss and Pirls,” the statement said.
The unions officially submit a document to Cotroceni
The trade union federations announce that on Friday, July 25, at 11:00, a delegation will submit to the Presidential Administration an official material requesting the rejection of the law.
“In view of the ones presented above, we consider that it is mandatory for the President of Romania to return to the Parliament the Law on some fiscal-budgetary measures and to request the elimination of articles that will seriously affect the long-term educational system. We hope that at least now, in the twelfth hour, the measures against education will be stopped,” say the call signators.
Fewer schools, cut scholarships and payment with diminished time
Within the fiscal package, adopted by the Government on July 7, measures are provided such as:
– the merging of the school units, the schools will only have legal personality if they reach minimal thresholds – 500 for classic schools, 250 for kindergartens, 50 for special education, etc.
– increasing the maximum number of students in the classroom, with up to four extra students, leading to 24 students, 28 at the gymnasium and 30 in high school.
– modification of the didactic norm, which climbs to 20 hours/week, with some exceptions for teachers with teaching I and mentoring activity.
– reducing the degreasing for directors and inspectors, and they will hand over at least 10-14 hours a week.
– drastic limitation of payment by time, by reducing the number of norms and recalculating their amount.
Less and harder scholarships to obtain
The law eliminates performance and resilience scholarships and limits the types of scholarships to three: merit, social and technological (for professional only). The criteria for the merit scholarship change, being granted only to the students from the top 15% of the class, with notes of at least 9.
