After years of discussions and plans on paper, the Ministry of Education takes a concrete step towards implementing the “red button”, a mechanism by which students and teachers will be able to signal – including anonymous – cases of violence or drug use in schools.
Minister of Education Daniel David. Photo Mediafax
After years of discussions and plans on paper, the Ministry of Education takes a concrete step towards implementing the “red button”, a mechanism by which students and teachers will be able to signal – including anonymous – cases of violence or drug use in schools.
“We have on the circuit the minister’s order with the ‘red button’ to allow to signal the cases of violence and the cases of drug use, forbidden substances. After the internal stages pass, you will see it. The general idea is this one I have announced: press.
What is the “red button”?
It is, practically, an e-mail address dedicated to each educational unit, where notifications related to dangerous behaviors can be transmitted-from traffic and consumption of substances, to violence in schools or bullying. The complaints will be analyzed by a person designated from the school, who will decide what steps must be followed.
“It will be possible to signal anonymous, which I think will help prevent and control this phenomenon in schools,” said Daniel David, Minister of Education, in a press conference.
How many years this mechanism has been discussed?
The “red button” is an idea in the public space for almost five years, but has never passed the intention phase. In 2020, the Ministry of Education spoke of the need for an anonymous reporting mechanism in the context of growing drug use among students, but the initiative was not materialized. Only now, in 2025, the order is finally on the approval circuit.
“Week otherwise” becomes “Prevention Week”
Also at the conference, Minister David announced that starting with the new school year, “the week otherwise” will have two mandatory topics: violence and drug use. The activities will be semi-structured, with the support of the specialists.
“Teachers, students and parents will learn to identify these phenomena and apply the intervention procedures – first in simulations, then in real life,” explained the minister.
100 years of baccalaureate
In the same conference, Daniel David also spoke about another important stake from 2025: the 100th anniversary of the first baccalaureate exam in Romania. “I would be glad that this baccalaureate should be not only one of success, but also a correct one, well organized. At 100, it should look even better,” said Education Minister Daniel David.
