site.btaRomania's Education Trade Unions to Stage Large-scale Protest on September 8

Romania's education trade unions are preparing a large-scale rally on September 8, the first day of school. About 30,000 people are expected to participate. On Monday, dissatisfied teachers from across the country protested in front of the Ministry of Education in Bucharest, according to their social media channels. They were adamant that they will not stop the demonstrations until they have direct talks with Education Minister Daniel David, who is currently on leave.

“Resign” and “Education is not an expense, but an investment” chanted the protesters on Monday. According to them, the government is causing an unprecedented crisis in education in the last 35 years.

The measures taken by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's cabinet include increasing the teaching load by two hours; merging hundreds of educational units, which will lead to cuts in teaching assistants and even administrative staff, increasing the number of students in classrooms, and reducing hourly rates.

“The measures taken are necessary, not desirable, in order to protect salaries and scholarships in the fall,” Education Minister Daniel David said last week.

According to him, many of the planned changes are temporary and will be reconsidered once the crisis has been overcome.

“If my resignation could solve the financial situation in education and scientific research, I would have announced it long ago,” the Minister added.