Debates on the amendments to the education laws

The public debates on the education bills have come to an end, with the new legislation providing for major changes.

România Internațional, 26.08.2022, 14:00

The public consultations on the new education laws have
come to an end after one month and a half. According to education minister Sorin
Cîmpeanu, the ministry received almost 1,500 proposals to improve the bills for
pre-university and higher education, after 75 rounds of talks. This was the
biggest public debate on a piece of legislation in Romania, taking place over
43 days, says minister Cîmpeanu:

The 1,486 proposals we have received amount to more
than 9,000 amendments. These fall into four categories: some are strongly
justified with arguments, some are mere requests, others are repeats, and yet
others are antagonistic. All of them will be analysed with utmost care over the
coming days so that by next week we can arrive at a format that can be
submitted for approval.

Education minister Sorin Cîmpeanu also said he hoped
that after the bills are approved by the government, they will go through the
parliamentary process by the end of the year. The plan is for some of the
provisions to come into force beginning with the next school year, with a full
implementation scheduled to take place by 2027. The new legislation is based on
several pillars, said the minister, such as improving the quality of the study
programme, ensuring equal access to education and the efficient guidance of
pupils to obtain the needed skills. Large-scale changes of the current
education system are envisaged, from admission to high school and university,
curriculum and pupil evaluation. There are also provisions about supporting
vulnerable children.

The new legislation has come, however, under harsh
criticism from many teachers, school managers, education experts, parents and
students. Moreover, some university teachers and cultural figures have requested
that the period of public debate is extended until this autumn, as the new laws
are of strategic importance. The National Alliance of Student Organisations
also said that debates must continue at least until the end of September to
ensure an optimal framework for consultation. The education ministry has
rejected the idea and said there are two more stages at which the bills can be
amended.

Next week, the education bills are due to be submitted
to the ministries of finance, justice and labour, to the Legislative Council
and the Economic and Social Council. (CM)