Boycotting National Exams Not A Solution For Romanian Education Sys - Minister

"Without a doubt, this is not a solution for the education system. I think we need to find solutions to meet teachers’ expectations,” she said when asked to comment on the "Spiru Haret" union federation’s decision to boycott national highschool graduation exams.

Andronescu added Romania is going through tough times because of the economic crisis but solutions must be found for such periods as well.

Andronescu was heard Wednesday by the Senate’s commission for education and she presented her stand point on investments in the education sector, school curricula, the training of teaching staff, decentralization in the sector and the current periodic evaluation system for universities.

Partial results of a referendum among teachers represented by the Romanian Federation of Free Unions in Education regarding protest actions indicate that about 80% of unionists want to boycott national exams and 60% support a general strike.

Federation leader Aurel Cornea told MEDIAFAX Wednesday that union members in 14 out of 41 counties have been polled so far.

“Over 80% were in favor of boycotting national exams and about 60% support a general strike,” Cornea said.

He added final results of the referendum will be available next week and a decision regarding protests will be made after all four Romanian union federation in the education sector poll union members.

The "Spiru Haret" federation finished polling its members and 80% were in favor of boycotting national exams.

Unionists in education are disgruntled with the outcome of the discussion they had with Romanian President Traian Basescu Tuesday, when he asked them to understand the country is going through an economic crisis and teachers’ wages would be frozen this year.

Unionists called on education minister Ecaterina Andronescu to resign, but she replied by saying that she would resign if such a move would earn the ministry’s budget more money. However, she said, it would be better if she stayed and fought for the education system.

The Romanian government approved this year’s first budget revision over the weekend lowered the expenses of the Education Ministry by 676 million lei (EUR1=RON4.1736) from an initial RON11.9 billion.

 

 

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