Romania, for over a month without a Minister of Education. Nicușor Dan: “It's an act of courage for someone to be Minister of Education today”
Nicusor Dan. Photo source: Inquam Photos / Codrin Unici
President Nicușor Dan said Thursday evening, on Digi24, that taking over the leadership of the Ministry of Education is “an act of courage”, given that Romania has not had a holder of this portfolio for over a month, after the resignation of Daniel David.
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“It's not good. Obviously it's not good. It's an act, to be very direct, it's an act of courage for someone who is the Minister of Education today”, said Nicușor Dan, when asked about the situation in which the ministry is.
“I am waiting for that person to come who has both the professional scope and the courage to take over the portfolio”
The head of state said that the education system has been underfunded for years and that there is no proportional motivation between the responsibilities in the field and the alternatives on the labor market.
“The education system has been underfunded for years, there is no proportional motivation for people to enter the education system that is commensurate with the responsibilities and other options in the labor market. We are after half a year of a decrease in the money that went into the education system. Many problems that come from old times. The overlap between school programs and what normal life, the labor market demands. I am waiting for that person to come who has both the professional scope and the courage to take the portfolio”, said the head of state.
Asked if former minister Daniel David was wrong, the president avoided answering.
“We can analyze various measures, this analysis is also done in part, we will have meetings with the unions, with the figures on the table. All the time when you make decisions in an emergency regime, you also make mistakes. I would not want to have this discussion now, especially since I want to have the opinion of all the people in the system. We had the risk, which we no longer have now, that the financial market and investors would say that Romania is not a country recommended for investment, which would have been a disaster (…) No more we are there. When I was with this risk seven months ago, some measures were taken in a very short time, in Education it was the shortest. When you work at speed you also make mistakes”, said Nicușor Dan.
Ilie Bolojan has not yet found a Minister of Education
After the resignation of Daniel David, on December 22, Romania still does not have a Minister of Education.
Political sources told HotNews that in the last two meetings of the National Political Bureau of the PNL there was no discussion about the name of the person who must receive the support of the party to occupy the position of Minister of Education.
The termination is provided by Ilie Bolojan, about whom HotNews wrote that he is considering Marilen Pirtea (PNL deputy and rector of the Western University of Timișoara) or Luciana Antonci (advisor to the prime minister and former school inspector) to take over the education portfolio.
During January, Ilie Bolojan had discussions with the two, according to HotNews sources, but no decision was reached.
Bolojan can also temporarily hold the position of Minister of Education for a maximum of 45 days, according to the law. This term expires, in this case, on February 28.
However, if the 45 term is exceeded, there are no penalties. In the past, Bolojan held the position of deputy prime minister vacated by Dragoș Anastasiu for more than 45 days.
