Parent Federation – Edupart draws attention to the attention that reducing school scholarships, invoked as a necessity so that Romania does not enter into the crisis, means “the sacrifice of the students for the moment balance”. Instead, the reorganization of the inspectorates, a measure provided in the new laws of education, but postponed for a long time, is required instead.
Only two types of scholarships for students, from autumn photo: Archive
Edupart sent, on Friday, June 27, an open letter to the Government of Romania and the Ministry of Education, which draws attention to the attention that the money cut from education will not solve the crisis through which Romania goes. Parents oppose the reduction of school scholarships, regardless of what form the measures are proposed – percentage ceilings, recalculations in relation to the net minimum wage or “budget optimization” -, considering that all these measures “Betrays a clear political option: the sacrifice of students for accounting balances for the moment.” It is reminded that Romania has the highest EI -16.6% early school dropout rate in 2022, compared to the European average of 9.5%, and in the PISA 2022 assessment is over 50 points below the OECD average at all three tested areas (science, mathematics, reading). With a phenomenon of abandonment and growing school migration, “The reduction of the scholarships transmits a deeply worrying signal regarding the priorities of the educational system”, I draw your parents’ attention.
“The scholarships are not a moft”
“We, parents, say firmly: education is not an expense, it is an investment in the future. And the scholarships are not a moft. I am a right of the child and an obligation of the state. They are the only direct form by which the society supports children to go to school, to learn and build a better path than the one they received ”, draws Edupart attention.
Parents demand the lack of transparency in the adoption of decisions and the absence of real assessments regarding the impact of these cuts. “We do not know how many children will be affected, from what averages, with what risks of abandonment. We do not know what happens in the classes where 30% of the students have above 9. We do not know if the social scholarships will remain at the same level or they will be reduced by masked recalculations. It is deeply worrying as decisions, no more than one, no children, no public studies ”, signals parents in the open letter.
“Who decides which of them deserves and who is not?”
The Minister of Education, Daniel David, announced two days ago that the current school scholarship system will be given up, because Romania does not allow it. Only two types of scholarships will be kept: merit scholarships and social scholarships. Another measure is related to the number of beneficiaries. It has been announced that the merit scholarships will be granted for 15% of the students of a class, the condition being that to benefit from the student’s average scholarship to be at least 9. Parents point out that the disadvantaged will be the students from the “good” classes, in which students with very large average risks not to benefit from the scholarship.
“Limiting merit scholarships to
In support of the exposed, the National Federation of Parents presents the results of a recent study, “Education through the eyes of parents”, carried out by Edupart, to which over 20,000 parents from all over the country have responded, and showing that the socio-economic inequities are perceived as decisive in the real chances of children.
To the question – “To what extent do you think that the social status of a family influences the school results of the children?” – Most parents, 70.45%, replied “In large and great extent” and only 10.17% chose the version “In a small and very small extent”, aLTI 19.38% being neutral.
“This means that 7 in 10 parents believe that education is not equal to all, and social status determines significantly. For specialists, this perception justifies compensatory interventions: scholarships, educational support, redistribution policies. And for the Government, this result should be an alarm signal that social mobility is in education.” Edupart says.
“It can be started with the reform of certain county school inspectorates”
Parents draw attention to attention that “If you want a reform and expenditure cuts, you can start with the reform of certain county school inspectorates.”
“For years, parents, honest teachers and civic organizations draw attention to the fact that some county school inspectorates often function as political and control centers, and less as structures that support the quality of education. Appointments on political criteria, the lack of transparency and blocking the initiatives in the territory have transformed these institutions into the barrier”mentions parents in the open letter.
Although the Law on pre -university education no. 198/2023 provides for the replacement of the IȘJs with county directions of pre-university education, the measure, firmly supported by the parents, was constantly postponed, for political reasons.
“It is deeply disappointing that, while the state claims that “there is no money” for scholarships, significant resources are still spent to maintain heavy, politicized and inefficient structures. If the Government really wants a budget reform and balance, it can start with them, not with the children’s scholarships ”, The parents say.
“Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Minister of Education, this letter is not a high protest. It is a form of calm, rational and moral resistance from parents in Romania. The scholarship cuts will not solve the crisis. On the contrary, they will deepen it. If we sacrifice education now, we will sacrifice our future – knowingly ”ends its parents’ national federation – Edupart The message.
Students and students, in the street
On Thursday, June 26, students from all over the country have expressed their disagreement with the reduction of the budget for scholarships, so that today and students will take the joining. The students came from the first hours of the morning in front of the Ministry of Education to express their dissatisfaction with reducing the number of announced scholarships. A part I say that the scholarship really represented a motivation to strive even more, others point out that that money represented an important source of income for those coming from families with low possibilities.
In the last two years, the students have benefited from scholarships in significant amount and, even more important, the settlement was made in a predictable system, years in a row both the amount and the payment of the scholarships being largely in the hands of the local authorities, which led to significant differences in granting.
In the school year 2024-2025 the amount of the scholarships was the following: the merit scholarship-450 lei/month; Resility scholarship – 300 lei/month; Social scholarship – 300 lei/month; Technological scholarship – 300 lei/month, scholarship for minor mothers – 700 lei per month, Olympic Excellency I – 750 – 3,000 lei, Olympic Excellence Stock Exchange – 700 lei. According to the intentions expressed so far, only merit and social scholarships (including minor mothers) will be granted from next school year, but no amounts have been advanced.
On the subject of the reform of the school scholarship system, the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, said that “it is abnormal to appoint what 30% of the students take.”
