| STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND REFORMS GREET THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR 16/09/09 |
| Last updated: 2009-09-16 14:39 EET |
On Monday, some three and a half million children and teenagers stood anxiously and watched as schools and high schools across Romania opened their doors, marking the beginning the new school year. However, this year is predicted to be one riddled with problems for Romanian learning institutions. Across the country, mostly in rural areas, many school function without a permit, decayed buildings are one step away from collapsing on students, and teaching positions will be filled by candidates who have failed to get certified. Sadly, Romanian education is far from being grade A. Marian Banu, communications inspector within the Bucharest City School Inspectorate.
“The city of Bucharest is home to some 700 buildings destined for education, grouped into 457 learning institutions, and 238 thousand students. We have good news! First of all, 14 institutions will be opened or rehabilitated using a loan from the European Investment Bank. Their current status is close to completion, and eight other institutions were opened last year. The program will include the structural rehabilitation of a total of 102 schools throughout the city of Bucharest, and providing learning material up to date with modern standards.”
Throughout the country, dozens of buildings are schools only by name, due to a lack of financial resources. Several schools running in decaying buildings were shut down, and their students transferred to improvised facilities. In a hamlet in Vaslui County, pupils and teachers cramp into a single-room makeshift school, improvised within a ranger station. According to Romanian daily Ziua, the first day of school in a village in Bistrita-Nasaud county seemed something out of a horror movie. Students from 1st to 8th grade study in a building with no windows and no electricity, and with holes in the roof. The structure last underwent repairs twenty years ago. Last year, the century-old building was returned to its previous owner by law, and subsequently bought by the local town hall. All the local authorities could do was to conclude it has to be demolished.
On the other hand, young school children were also greeted by nurses, checking for signs of illness, especially swine flu. Here is Marian Banu, once again:
“These procedures are required in order to secure a healthy school environment. The Ministry of Health decreed that children have to be educated about this virus, and how they can prevent catching it. This is a proactive measure taken against the swine flu virus, checking all students at the beginning of this school year. These actions will be carried out over a period of three days, and we will update our inspectorate’s website with the measures taken and other aspects of this campaign. Furthermore, special measures were taken in order to secure a safe environment in schools, with support from the Bucharest Metropolitan Police and the Gendarmerie. We’ve expanded our security camera network, and now have over 160 CCTV systems installed in schools. We will collaborate with local authorities in keeping learning institutions safe.”
Some students learning in urban environments were treated to luxury conditions – digital blackboard and watching documentaries on plasma screens. Other school didn’t need to invest as much money for improvement, because teachers, parents and students alike worked on renovations by painting school walls.
On the other hand, teachers are unhappy with their wages. According to the National Institute for Statistics, in July of the current year, the average teaching staff salary was placed at 1491 lei, the equivalent of some 350 euros. A beginner earns around 700 lei, while a teacher boasting extensive experience can make as much as 1800 lei. According to the press in Bucharest, teachers’ complaints were the main reason for delaying the passing of the single state-employee payment system law. The press added that low wages are also the reason why the position of teacher is becoming less and less respected each year. Despite no longer benefiting from various bonuses, teachers tried to put worries and cares aside and rejoice in being reunited with their students.
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2010-09-10
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