Minister of Education Boasts about Students' Achievements in Olympiads

The Ministry of Education takes pride in the achievements of students at international competitions. While the accomplishments exist, they are not the result of a competitive system but rather individual efforts, representing exceptions in a sea of disillusionment.

The Ministry of Education organized an award ceremony at the National Theater "I. L. Caragiale" in Bucharest to honor students who excelled in international Olympiads in 2023, their teachers, and the educational institutions they attend. On this occasion, Minister of Education Ligia Deca stated, "144 students have won over 170 prizes and medals this year at international Olympiads and competitions, which means we have more reasons to rejoice than last year. Distinctions are a source of genuine pride for the entire country, but especially for those who have earned them, for the families who have supported them, the teachers who have prepared them, and the schools they come from. Today, we celebrate excellence in education. [...] Today, prizes worth over 1.4 million lei will be awarded. Behind the results obtained, there are many hours of work, passion, and perseverance, primarily by the children, but they had professionals passionate about their profession. Thank you, gentlemen teachers; today, we also reward this form of excellence in the teaching profession. The highest value of an award is 20,000 lei. In 2023, Romania won prizes at 30 international Olympiads in various fields. [...] I hope that by increasing the historical percentage of over 50% on average in the salaries of the education sector in less than a year, we will attract more and more young professionals to the teaching career."

According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, there are 138 Olympic students who have won 164 medals, prizes, and mentions at 28 international Olympiads and regional Olympiads or competitions by discipline (juniors and seniors). The statement also mentions 138 teachers who have trained these students and the 71 educational institutions they come from. Of the 139 meritorious students, 20 have won 2, 3, 4, or 5 distinctions in international competitions. Romanian students have won 6 absolute gold medals (with maximum points), 51 gold medals/1st prizes, 55 silver medals/2nd prizes, 30 bronze medals/3rd prizes, and 22 mentions/equivalent diplomas.

The prize amounts for results in international Olympiads/competitions are as follows since last year: 20,000 lei - absolute 1st prize (with maximum points), 15,000 lei - 1st prize/gold medal, 12,500 lei - 2nd prize/silver medal, 10,000 lei - 3rd prize/bronze medal, and 6,000 lei - mention or equivalent diploma. The amounts awarded to students who have excelled in regional/Balkan competitions (seniors and juniors) are: 7,500 lei - 1st prize/gold medal, 6,000 lei - 2nd prize/silver medal, 4,500 lei - 3rd prize/bronze medal, and 3,500 lei - mention or equivalent diploma. For the teacher/teachers who have prepared the student/students, a single financial incentive is awarded, in the highest amount provided for one of their awarded students. In cases where the awarded student was trained by two or more teachers, the financial incentive is divided equally among all preparing teachers. For the school attended or formerly attended by the student/students, a prize is awarded in the amount provided for each awarded student. In this case, the received incentives will be used for targeted equipment, with priority given to the discipline/disciplines corresponding to academic achievement.