Romania\u2019s main education unions announced they will boycott the start of the school year on September 8 and stage protests in Bucharest against austerity measures introduced under Law 141\/2025, legislated in July.\u00a0The budgetary impact of the measures is estimated at around EUR 70 million, indicating an annual impact of just over EUR 200 million per year or 0.05% of GDP, while the negative effect on the quality of education is proportionally higher, the school teachers claim.<\/p>\n
The Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, the Federation of Trade Unions in Education \u201cSpiru Haret\u201d, and the National Trade Union Federation \u201cAlma Mater\u201d said in a joint statement that they will picket the government headquarters before marching to the Cotroceni Palace, Agerpres<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n The unions argue that provisions of the reform package, such as reduced overtime pay, larger class sizes, and the merger of small schools, are triggering the \u201cworst crisis in education in the last 35 years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n They called on pupils, parents, and students \u201cnot to blame them,\u201d stressing that the protest is aimed at \u201cstopping abusive measures of the government.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn September 8, instead of being at the desk to celebrate the start of school, we, the teachers, will take to the streets for the future of education and for the future of Romania. We are not in the streets for higher salaries, but for better conditions in the conduct of the educational act, for justice,\u201d the unions said.<\/p>\n According to the federations, the efficiency measures imposed to reduce the budget deficit will ultimately generate \u201ca much higher cost\u201d by eroding the quality of education and undermining the professional and social status of education workers.<\/p>\n \u201cOur protest is a protest to stop these abusive measures, through which we show that we do not agree that education and research in Romania will continue to be underfunded and disregarded. We must convince the government that education spending is an investment, not a cost,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n The unions concluded by urging public understanding: \u201cPlease understand the importance of our fight and stand by us, as your future, that of the young generations who are being formed and will be formed in the educational system, is also at stake.\u201d<\/p>\n