site.btaRomanian Teachers Extend Protest into Third Day
On Friday, for a third consecutive day, Romanian teachers protested in front of the Ministry of Education in Bucharest. The demonstrators filled the air with the sound of whistles, vuvuzelas, and sirens, waving signs that read: “We no longer accept policies made by you against us,” “We’re tired of being blamed for your political chaos,” and “You’ve destroyed our dignity”. Some one hundred teachers gathered outside the ministry building, once again demanding the resignation of Education Minister Daniel David and expressing outrage over the fact that he had gone on vacation amid the crisis.
“Since you’re on holiday, you have plenty of time to reflect on your resignation and submit it upon your return to Bucharest. We assure you, we will not be taking a vacation until you leave office,”
declared Marius Nistor, one of the union leaders.
Protesters described David as a “pseudo-minister” and even a “terrorist of education”, accusing the government of being equally complicit for continuing to support him. They called for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and repeated their threat to start the new school year out on the streets instead of in classrooms. Some even warned that they might resort to a hunger strike.
The protests are in response to controversial new government measures, expected to take effect on September 1, that would increase class sizes while reducing teachers’ incomes – a move educators say will further degrade an already strained system.
Friday’s demonstration lasted two hours and coincided with the implementation of the first package of budgetary and fiscal austerity measures by the Bolojan government, aimed at reducing Romania’s budget deficit.
/KK/
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