Dispute over Romanian Education
A permanent bone of contention between the power and the opposition in the past 30 years, Romanian education is now again in the spotlight
Corina Cristea, 26.05.2020, 14:00
Due to the
crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, on March 11th Romanian
education moved online. It was an emergency solution, which has worked out for
some, but has been a failure for many others, given that not all children have
tablets and internet access. Not to mention that some don’t even have access to
electricity.
Faced with an unprecedented situation, in a first stage, Bucharest
authorities decided to suspend classes, for a limited period of time. Then,
they extended the measure, online classes turned from ‘recommended’ to ‘mandatory’
and then a final decision was made, namely that regular schooling was not to be
resumed this spring, except for 8th and 12th graders, who
would go back to school for two weeks, in order to prepare for their final
examinations.
The opposition
Social Democratic Party and PRO Romania have termed the situation as
unacceptable and have filed a simple no-confidence motion against the Education
Minister Monica Anisie. The confusing and contradictory statements about the
way in which national evaluation exams, the baccalaureate and the tenure exams
are to be held have created panic among students and teachers, and the decision
regarding online classes are evidence of the education minister’s irresponsibility’,
reads the motion, signed by 93 deputies. They are calling for the resignation
of Monica Anisie, whom they accuse of lack of vision and strategy against the
background of the current health crisis.
The text of
the motion was read in plenary Chamber of Deputies session by Mihaela Hunca,
representing the PRO Romania party:
What
about the hundreds of thousands of pupils who do not have tablets, laptops and
access to the internet? What about those who cannot afford such costs? What is
Orban Government’s strategy? Here is the answer: total carelessness.
The decisions made were in line with
the epidemiological situation and starting from the reality of Romanian education,
which was not ready for getting online right away, replied the education
minister. Monica Anisie has rejected all accusations, claiming that the current
situation of the Romanian education system is the effect of the measures taken
by the previous Social Democratic governments, whom she accused of having chronically
under-financed the system.
Education Minister Monica Anisie:
What happened to the
projects drawn up as early as 2011 for the national education law? What should
I understand from this? That you indirectly admit you are blaming me for your
own ignorance in the past? Devices will be purchased for the 250 thousand children
from disadvantaged environments.
The vote on this third simple motion
filed against a minister of the Orban Cabinet is to be cast on Wednesday. Beyond
any political dispute, the direction for the examination of pupils in the final
years is clear though. The baccalaureate calendar has been approved and the
oral examinations have been eliminated. Also, the calendar of examinations for admission
to high-school in the 2020-2021 school year has been established and approved. (M.Ignatescu)
