Several teachers who passed the competition to fill vacant/reserved teaching positions in the pre-university education system wrote a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, in which they ask that those who got at least grade 7 once or twice not no longer have to support the annual competition.
The teaching staff invited Ligia Deca to a dialogue. Photo: Archive
In the open letter, the teachers bring to the attention of the Minister of Education “the situation that raises questions about the fairness and equity in the process of occupying teaching positions in the educational system. More precisely, we are referring to the stages preceding the tenure competition and the fact that holders have the right to supplement their norm with hours, with hours paid by the hourly rate, hours that could go to teaching staff who took the tenure competition and obtained the minimum note 7″.
According to the teaching staff, the tenure competition does not ensure a “fair distribution of positions” for all candidates. Although those who have “obtained high grades in this competition should be allocated as a priority, the reality is that many of the available hours are already occupied by holders by supplementing the norm with hourly payment”.
“A major problem with lack of transparency”
The teachers also request a review of the situation, “so as to ensure a fair allocation of educational resources, respecting the results obtained in the tenure examination and giving candidates who have demonstrated competence the chance to obtain a suitable position.
In addition, we believe that the current organization of the tenure contest suffers from a significant ambiguity. In the context of the tenure contest, a major problem must be emphasized related to the lack of transparency and objectivity in the evaluation process. In a genuine competition, transparency is essential and candidates should know the results immediately, which would ensure fairness and clarity. Instead, the evaluation within the current tenure competition is closer to an exam, similar to the Baccalaureate exam, obviously much more difficult (and that’s a good thing), where subjectivity in the evaluation can significantly influence the grades. This approach is incompatible with the specifics of a competition that should be based on clear, measurable and transparent criteria, eliminating any doubt regarding the correctness of the results”. it is also shown in the relevant letter.
At the same time, teachers also point out that students, teachers, but also parents are “dismayed” of the changes that take place every summer in schools across the country, stating that “quality education cannot take place without stability”.
“Madam Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, you talked about stability in the pre-university education system, which is totally untrue. We want, also in this way, to inform you that S44 thousand substitute teachers in Romania, probably more than in any other EU member countrywhich endangers the principle of predictability in Education. Also, the factors involved in the educational act, students-teachers-parents, are upset by the changes that take place every summer in educational units in Romania. A quality education cannot take place without stability”.
The teachers also stated in the document that the Ministry of Education “does not comply with the recommendations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) regarding the management of human resources in education“: “The current practice in Romania, which requires the constant repetition of the competition regardless of previous performances, goes against these recommendations and undermines efforts to reform and modernize the educational system.
The teachers say their petitions were ignored by Ligia Deca
“The recent petition, the third in number – all being ignored by you – of the teachers requests the elimination of the obligation to take the exam for those who have already obtained grade 7. “Those who have obtained grade 7 should not take the annual exam, unless they want to -improve his grade», the petition states.
This petition represents the teachers’ call for change in an unfair system. Although the need for a competition for access to education is understood, it is not normal for the same teachers to be required to participate annually, regardless of seniority and previous results. First degree teachers with excellent results still have to take this competition, even with a grade 10, without being given a clear finality.” it is also shown in the letter.
“The “expiration” of a grade has no pedagogical justification”
The teachers ask that those who got at least grade 7 once or twice no longer have to take the annual competition.
“We request that those who obtained at least grade 7 once or twice be exempted from the annual competition. The condition of passing this competition – obtaining a grade 7 in the written test – is imposed by the competition methodology for filling vacant/reserved positions in pre-university education and must be respected. At the same time, «Expires» of a grade has no pedagogical justification, and the period mentioned in the methodology is irrelevant, because, due to poor management of teaching positions, candidates, regardless of grade, are forced to participate in the competition. Also, the term «locum tenens» for teachers who took part in the national competition for teaching positions/vacant/reserved chairs and obtained a minimum grade of 7, according to the methodology, it is not a correctly used one, having the role of creating confusion in the public space. These teachers promoted a national employment competition, a competition that is totally different from the replacement one, where unqualified people can also participate.
This practice is discouraging, affects contractual stability and didactic continuity, negatively affecting both teachers and students in the didactic process.
Education is the basis of any society and the modernization process. One of the principles of education is that of equity. Thus, Mrs. Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, we believe that it is both unfair and aberrant that the majority of positions are occupied by those who already benefit from a position in the pre-university education system before the employment competition, as she says and the name. This discourages prepared young people from pursuing education and turns a job competition into a media circus and a destabilizing factor for pre-university education. Therefore, we request that all vacant positions during the school year be put up for competition in order to be able to talk about a competition and about a successful teaching act”, the teachers claim.
“Implement the respect those countries give to teachers as well”
The teachers invited Ligia Deca to a dialogue “to be able to improve the pre-university education system and to bring predictability to all the factors involved in the educational process”.
“Just as doctors do not have to think about financial aspects when treating patients, so teachers, who promote the competition to fill vacant/reserved teaching positions in pre-university education, should not have a one-year contract, under the conditions that they they prepare the students, the future adults, for a society in permanent change. A country that respects itself also respects its teachers. If you still want to implement measures from the education system characteristic of other countries, then also implement the respect that those countries give to teachers.
In conclusion, Madam Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, although you have ignored all our messages on social networks, and not only that, we invite you to a dialogue in order to be able to improve the pre-university education system and to bring predictability to all the factors involved in the educational process. We hope that this time you will stop ignoring our message and be open to dialogue, because communication is the key to respect and success.” the teachers also sent.
