Daniel David, about the dissatisfaction of the students related to the cutting of scholarships: “I am convinced that a rational and decent student, if they were in my place, would do what I do”

The Minister of Education says that he understands the dissatisfaction of the students who protest the reduction of the scholarship fund, which involves the elimination of some, and that, in their place, they would react the same, but that “the pressure on the budget is huge”.

“If I were in their place, I would protest. As I am convinced that a rational and decent student, if they were in my place, would do what I do.

“The pressure on the budget is huge”

The minister explained that the year of reference in the governance program is 2023, a year of transition between the old system and the application of the new law of education: “Between 2022, in which the levels of scholarship funds were very low, and the year 2023, you are already beginning to benefit from the regulations of the Education Law. In 2024, the effects of the law are. Very large increases between 2022 and 2023 and spectacular increases between 2023 and 2024. Romania has become one of the countries that offer the strongest scholarship system in the public system – both in the pre -university and in the university area. “

Daniel David claimed that, at present, the pressure on the budget, by granting the scholarships, is “huge”:

“As Minister of Education, I will always say: If someone wants to give money in our system, I am happy. I do not make any evaluation of those who were before me. Only, when such growths are made, you are very careful about sustainability. And under normal conditions, not in the economic-financial crisis, it is hard to cover it. budget.

“Differentiation criteria for merit scholarships must be thought of”

The Minister of Education insisted on the importance of preserving social scholarships, especially in pre -university education, said that “they have a very important role in preventing school dropout:” Because I know that if I want to protect something – and I want – those are social scholarships. We will have to change. “

Regarding the merit scholarships, Daniel David explained that the current system is not sustainable and that the merit should be defined clearer and more stricter.

Merit scholarships will be awarded to students with averages of at least 9 (currently the average is 9.50), within 15% of the total students in a class (currently a 30% limit).

“We will probably define the merit otherwise. It was defined up to 30%, but often you exceed 30%. The proposal we are working now is 15% in a class, with a minimum note 9. And those 15% remain 15%. That is, if we have more than 9, we will have to think of secondary criteria.

Wherever I looked, in any system, in the western countries, in Germany, when I speak of scholarships and merit, the percentage is 10-15%. Do not reach 30%. We were very generous – I repeat, not critically, it is very good that we tried to give – but it is not sustainable. We do not allow ourselves, ”said the Minister of Education.

Final decisions, pending

The minister said that the measures are not yet final and that they will be announced at the governmental level: “We do not yet have the final decisions. They will be communicated by the prime minister, most likely, in the package with all the important decisions, because education is not the only one and probably not the main contributor to the reduction of the budget deficit. But we are there.”

The proposal is that only two types of school scholarships remain in the fall

In the school year 2024-2025, in pre -university education there are four types of scholarships granted to students: merit scholarships, Olympic excellence, social scholarships and technological scholarships.

The minimum amount established by law is 450 lei for merit scholarships, 700 lei for exchanges of excellence, respectively 300 lei for social and technological scholarships.

In higher education, students can receive merit scholarships, social scholarships, special scholarships for special performances and occasional help scholarships, granted from funds allocated to universities.

According to the Minister of Education, the scholarship system is to be simplified, and from the next school year there will be only two types of scholarships, for both students and students:

• merit scholarships
• Social scholarships

The exchanges of excellence will be eliminated, but the Olympic students will, instead, receive prizes in higher money, according to the proposal of Minister Daniel David.