Minister of Education, Daniel David, believes that as a result of the crisis measures taken by the Government, a healthier education system will be built and emphasized that the only way out of this crisis is through solidarity and rational and decent actions.
”We must also give up outdated paradigms with hidden, underperforming, and unfair mechanisms in education and research,” David conveyed.
The Minister of Education explained that the measures in the Government's package "were taken in a context burdened by (1) rationality - to stay within the limits of European benchmarks and (2) decency - as much as the country can afford in a crisis and with the return of (financial) resources to the system."
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He reiterated the ideas that:
”In the short term: in education and research, we do not lay off people or reduce salaries;
In the medium term: the starting point for a beginner teacher/university assistant will be the average gross salary in the economy, and we will ensure salary equivalence of CSII/CSI with associate/professor;
In the long term: we will no longer postpone 1% of GDP for research and 15% of the consolidated general budget (on expenses) for education,” the minister further conveyed.
He explained some of the measures in the package.
The increase in the weekly teaching load by 2 hours will be taken from free hours.
”We have over 30,000 teaching norms in the system that are not covered by tenure/viability/continuity - so ongoing employment contracts will not be stopped. No one will lose their job, and we will handle each specific situation, where necessary, in the interest of the educator/student and the education system,” the minister conveyed.
According to him, the increase in working norms in direct activities with children is on average from 3.6 to 4 hours out of the 8 daily hours.
”In a general formulation, it increases, on average, by 24 minutes daily! And this places us still below the European average of the teaching norm. This increase is temporary, valid for a study cycle (4 years), to analyze its impact, and experienced and performing teachers will be able to deduct from their 8-hour work time.
Finally, to support this transition, activities related to "homeroom," national exams (national assessment and baccalaureate), and preparation for Olympiads remain as before, not included in the norm, and will be paid separately,” the minister further conveyed.
He also stated that the new higher threshold for legal personality status does not change anything regarding the school unit and its orientation towards the needs of teachers and students (e.g., employment contracts, the location of educational activities, etc.).
The school is formally attached to one with legal personality, only the position of director disappears, but the person remains a holder in the system. Regulations related to the number of school units per administrative-territorial unit remain valid.
The Government has taken responsibility for the first package of fiscal measures aimed at reducing the deficit. The opposition has three days to submit a vote of no confidence. If this is not submitted or does not pass, the law is considered adopted.