Measures with Social Impact
Teachers in Romania are continuing their protests after the announcement of the first measures of budgetary austerity
Ştefan Stoica, 26.08.2025, 14:00
Shortly after the government endorsed the first package of fiscal budgetary measures aimed at curbing the budget deficit, teaching staffers in Romania have kicked off a series of protests and are determined to maintain pressure on the Executive and mainly on Education Minister, Daniel David. Roughly 150 teachers and schoolmasters on Monday picketed the headquarters of the field ministry to protest the latest amendments aimed at increasing the teaching hours and student numbers in classes
Monday was the 17th day of protests mounted by the teachers who have also called for the Education Minister’s resignation. Under the latest fiscal-budgetary law, teaching hours and the number of students per class are increased.
According to the Education Ministry, there are no major changes to most of the classes and the law is actually addressing the classes with a lower number of students. Minister David says that although he understands the crisis conditions, the lower and upper limits to classes can be established only on the principle of rationality and the changes to be operated do not run against European or international rules.
However, his arguments have not been accepted by the teachers who are ready to boycott the beginning of the school year, for what they perceive as an increase in their work hours and number of students as well as a decrease in the quality of education.
The Education Minister is expecting the teachers to boycott the day of September 8, the beginning of the school year 2025-2026. He says that education was targeted by the first package of fiscal-budgetary measures, not because someone wanted it, but because the new school year should kick off with new regulations.
The new measures will also be affecting other categories of Romanians. Starting with the month of September, roughly 650 thousand Romanians with low incomes can be left without health insurances. In order to avoid this situation, they must become co-insured by filling in a special form and notifying the Tax Authority through a unique statement. They must also pay an annual contribution.
Those suffering from chronic ailments, such as cancer, diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, kidney failure and rare illnesses, AIDS and tuberculosis, are still benefitting from treatment and the proper equipment and medical services, irrespective of their insurance degree. Children under 18, young people between 18 and 26 if they are students, pregnant women, disabled people as well as pensioners with pensions below 600 Euros, will also benefit from the same facility.
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