The disease of Education: much talk, few deeds"

A new school year began yesterday. Students, teachers, parents, and politicians marked the occasion in their own ways. Hopes are still high, but few are realized. The start of the new school year has once again demonstrated that education suffers due to an excess of empty words and a shortage of concrete actions.

A sensitive issue was addressed on the first day of school. President Klaus Iohannis announced that he has decided to include the topic of drug consumption among young people on the agenda of the next CSAT meeting. Iohannis, along with the Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, and the Mayor of Sector 1, Clotilde Armand, attended the opening ceremony of the school year at School No. 162 in the Capital. The President stated, "I want to address now an alarming phenomenon, that of drug consumption among young people. It is a problem that increasingly concerns our society, and I am glad to see a growing interest in finding solutions to combat this scourge. I have decided to include this topic on the agenda of the next meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defense. The effects, extent, and societal challenges of drug consumption, especially at a young age and in schools, pose a serious challenge to individual and national security. At the same time, I want to emphasize the importance of preventive and responsible behaviors. It is crucial for younger generations to understand from a young age the dangers and dramatic consequences of drug, alcohol, and tobacco consumption. Through education and awareness, we can build a strong barrier against these threats. It is also vital to implement health education programs in schools that provide students with all the information and tools they need to make healthy choices."

The President stated that we finally have modern education laws that implement the vision of the "Educated Romania" project, noting that a competitive Romania can only be achieved through quality education accessible to all students and students: "You are the first generations to benefit from the reforms implemented with the new legislative framework that pursues ambitious objectives. "The recently adopted education laws give us the chance for a fresh start in a fundamental area for any modern society. However, educational reforms require patience and perseverance because results are seen over time and not overnight. Let's give the new laws the opportunity to be implemented. I hope that politicians will show maturity and refrain from making immediate changes that can disrupt this path, as unfortunately, many previous reforms were diluted through such interference. I like to believe that our common goal is to build an educated Romania where every child has the chance to explore their potential and grow professionally and personally." President Klaus Iohannis declared that he continues to support the increase in teachers' salaries starting from January 1, 2024, and assured that he remains firm in supporting all the efforts to make the commitments made by the Government this summer a reality: "My message to you remains the same: you are indispensable to the future of this country. The salary increases this year are a step in the right direction, but surely you deserve more. The average increase of 25% in teacher salaries has become a reality after drawing society's attention to the importance of the teaching profession. I continue to support salary increases starting from January 1, 2024, and I assure you that I remain steadfast in supporting all the efforts to make the commitments made by the Government this summer a reality."

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu attended the opening of the new school year at the Technical College "Anghel Saligny" in Bucharest. Along with Marcel Ciolacu were the Prefect of the Capital, Rareş Hopincă, and the Mayor of Sector 3, Robert Negoiţă. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated that he believes in dual education and that he will do everything in his power to develop dual education together with companies and local administrations: "I believe in dual education and will do everything in my power to develop dual education together with companies, local administrations, and, last but not least, with the directors who want to produce skilled children in this Technical College "Anghel Saligny". As soon as they finish high school, they get hired. Last year, out of 54 students, 40 were hired immediately." The Prime Minister emphasized that Romania needs the private sector, and without young people who know a trade, our country will not develop: "Romania needs the private sector, and without significant companies and young people who know a clear profession, Romania will not develop. I think it is our duty to get involved and create an alternative for children and parents. It is an exceptional college, with an exceptional infrastructure. From my point of view, this is the way to go."

• Ciucă encouraged students to respect their teachers

The President of the Senate, leader of the PNL Nicolae Ciucă, conveyed a message to students at the beginning of the school year, urging them to consider learning as an individual goal and to understand that through learning, they will be able to shape their own professional careers and decide what they will do in the future. Nicolae Ciucă was present at the opening of the school year at the "Timotei Cipariu" Technological High School in Blaj. The President of the Senate stated, "Before coming to this school year opening ceremony, I visited the practical training center of the Bosch company, where they presented to us everything about running a vocational dual training program and how this training phase is completed so that graduates can choose to continue their studies or go directly into the workforce. I really liked the method they use, speaking to us and explaining that beyond the school curriculum, learning also includes letting students choose, enjoy everything such training can offer, express their creativity, and, of course, make the decision themselves about what they do in the future. In Romania, we say that a profession is a golden bracelet. Indeed, we need to develop this segment so that we can provide the necessary workforce for a growing economy. Beyond all the technological impacts, we must consider that this technology is behind the workbenches, behind the commands that need to be given for human intervention." Nicolae Ciucă urged students to respect their teachers: "I also want to encourage you to respect those who are in front of you today, the teachers, both ladies and gentlemen. They deserve our full gratitude, all of you, because only through their hard work and dedication can we remember the role they played in shaping us as individuals. I also want to ask you to show the necessary gratitude to the parents who are with you today because parents guided us in our first steps in life. Parents are with us whenever we need them, and we always consult with them and take the best advice when we need it. There has been a lot of discussion lately about a range of problems encountered in schools and around schools, and I want to return to this idea of behaving as empathetically as possible, with maximum friendship, understanding, and tolerance towards your classmates and friends. Let's stay away from anything that can divert us from our normal path, especially at this age, and have the courage and strength to give good advice to any colleague or fellow student who needs it."

• Deca: The salary increases in the past year were the largest in the last three decades

The Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, stated that this school year represents a new beginning for the entire education system, noting that the law on pre-university education, which gradually implements the "Educated Romania" project initiated by President Klaus Iohannis, has come into effect, and the desired change is beginning to be seen: "The start of the school year brings many emotions for all of us. I can see the joy on the faces of the children as they reunite with their classmates and teachers, and this is evidence that School No. 162 represents a standard of professionalism and dedication. I congratulate you for what you have built together, and I confess that it is always a joy for me to be among those who truly love education. However, this school year marks a new beginning for the entire education system. As we know, the law on pre-university education has already come into force and is gradually implementing the vision of the 'Educated Romania' project initiated by the President of Romania." The Minister emphasized that the desired change in the education system is beginning to be seen: "Both the President of Romania and the Government of Romania have consistently reiterated that education is a national priority. I have dedicated a significant part of my career to improving the educational system in Romania, and that is why I am pleased to say that the change we all wanted is finally beginning to be seen. However, we must aim for more and ensure more. We have set a goal for every school in Romania to have adequate educational infrastructure. This is already being put into practice through the provision of furniture, teaching materials, and digital equipment to educational institutions, through the largest investment in the last three decades. Over one billion euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan are currently being contracted, and the first results will be visible in the coming months. Over 2,000 contracts have already been signed, and by the end of this month, they will all be launched to provide the material basis that our children deserve." The Minister of Education also mentioned that solving "recurrent challenges" of the system is a priority of her mandate: "Since the beginning of my mandate, the Ministry of Education has launched calls for projects funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) worth nearly 3 billion euros. This includes the creation of a pilot network of green schools, programs to reduce school dropout rates, the purchase of green minibuses for students, and the provision of smart laboratories for high schools in Romania. Solving recurrent challenges of the system is a priority of my mandate." According to Ligia Deca, the law on pre-university education stipulates that the school program will be conducted in a maximum of two shifts starting from the school year 2025-2026, but measures will be taken to reduce the number of schools in this situation even this year: "The safety of students and teachers is another priority. We have adopted and will continue to adopt firm measures to prevent and reduce violence in the school environment and will place greater emphasis on prevention through projects and campaigns to prevent the consumption of prohibited substances." She also noted that all these changes can only happen through collective efforts and through a close partnership between all those involved in the school's life and education. Ligia Deca mentioned that among the significant changes for students are the tripling of the number of school scholarship beneficiaries and an increase in the amount awarded for most categories of scholarships, as well as the implementation of curriculum at the student's discretion from the school's offering and new curricula and syllabi for high school, adapted to students' desires and generation. The Minister also mentioned that the legislative package is in support of teachers and is evidence that educators should be valued, noting the salary increases in the past year, which "were the largest in the last three decades": "The Government has committed to gradually increasing salaries in the coming years, based on the average gross wage in the economy as a starting salary. The average salary increase for teaching staff this year was over 25%, and for auxiliary teaching staff, it was over 30%. The Romanian Government has committed that starting from January 1, 2024, teaching staff and educational personnel will benefit from a new increase, in line with the agreements with the representatives of educational personnel."

The Minister referred to school directors, mentioning salary inequalities and discussions that the Ministry of Education has had with the Ministry of Labor and the Government to address them.