RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Teachers’ protests

Thousands of teachers took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against a government emergency ordinance on public sector salaries.

Teachers’ protests
Teachers’ protests

, 02.06.2016, 13:44

The Romanian education sector has long been faced with many problems generated mainly by under-funding. Those problems are well-known, and the entire political class has been trying, at least in words, to find solutions for tens of years. All the more so as the problems in the system have negative repercussions on children’s education.



Children are our only hope for a better future, said Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, adding he would like to lay solid foundations in terms of several essential aspects, such as performance in education, equal chances for all children irrespective of their background and access to high-quality medical services.



“I want Romania to become a country where raising a child should be about helping them find their way in life and using their talents in the best possible way, and not about worrying about tomorrow, as it unfortunately happens in the case of some parents”, the Prime Minister also said. In an attempt to address the problems in the public sector, including the education sector, the government plans to adopt a new pay scheme to eliminate discrepancies between salaries.



Dissatisfied with the draft emergency ordinance in this area, teachers took to the streets in Bucharest on Wednesday. More than 10,000 of them gathered in front of the government building and then left on foot to the president’s office at the Cotroceni Palace to request the support of president Klaus Iohannis, who was himself a teacher by training. Previously, teachers had demanded pay rises of at least 10% this year, but only obtained the promise of a 5% increase as of August 1st. Labour Minister Dragos Paslaru said he wanted to give teachers a more substantial pay rise but the government did not have the funds this year. Dragos Paslaru:



We are aware of the problems in the education system. We care about education. However, the government’s hands are tied because its resources are limited. We believe this emergency ordinance aimed at correcting some of the problems in the sector contains some good things in that it will create a fairer pay scheme in the sector, but it is only a first step. This move should be followed by a unitary salary law to introduce national level salaries for all categories of employees”.



Dragos Paslaru said he would try to hold one last round of talks with the trade unions in the education system.


(Translated by C. Mateescu)

Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe
The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Election campaigns in Romania

    The campaign for the general election in Romania started last week, at midnight on Thursday, and will end on 30 November. During this...

Election campaigns in Romania
November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
(Photo: pixabay@Engin_Akyurt)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Challenges of an ageing population

Romanians are getting fewer and older.   The population of Romania in mid-2024 was 21,779,000, down 1% compared to June 1, 2023. According to...

Challenges of an ageing population

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company