site.btaRomanian Education Unions Demand Minister David’s Resignation, Launch Protests

Trade unions in the education sector in Romania have called for the resignation of Education Minister Daniel David. This was made clear in a statement they sent to the media on Wednesday.

Starting the same day, dissatisfied educators will begin protest actions in front of the Ministry of Education building, and on September 8 — the first day of the school year — they are planning an “education rally” in Bucharest with the participation of 30,000 people.

According to the trade unions, Minister Daniel David played an active role in implementing unprecedented measures that will impact pre-university education and scientific research. The planned changes include increasing the number of students per class and raising the teaching workload by two hours.

“Education is not to blame for the budget deficit, but rather party sympathies, last-minute deals, and interparty intrigues. These are some of the reasons why members of the three representative education union federations, and not only them, are deeply outraged by the minister’s behavior. Mr. Minister, make an honorable move and resign,” the statement demands.

The trade unions accuse Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s government of causing an unprecedented crisis in education in the past 35 years and criticize President Nicușor Dan for his “suspicious silence.”

“All the measures were taken suddenly, without the usual impact assessments. The education system is complex, and its staff are not just inventory items — they are human beings who cannot be discredited and humiliated as the government is doing now,” the trade unions state.

They claim that increasing the teaching workload by two hours will have serious consequences for teachers and pose financial and psychological risks.

“In most schools, the reality is that there will be full-time teachers who will be laid off, and qualified substitute teachers who will most likely not find jobs. As for the full-time teachers, there is a high risk that they will no longer receive their full salaries, because it will be impossible to provide them with the full 20-hour teaching load,” the unions warn.

A week ago, the unions issued an open letter to President Nicușor Dan urging him not to promulgate the first package of fiscal measures aimed at reducing the budget deficit, which is scheduled to take effect on August 1. “Mr. President, do not take part in the destruction of Romanian education!” they wrote.