Protesting teachers headed for Presidential Palace to continue picketing

Thousands of teachers from all over Romania protesting against the measures taken by the government regarding the education system on Monday left their initial venue of protest in the Victoriei Square to continue picketing at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

The demonstrators were brandishing placards with messages such as: "Education deserves a bigger slice of pizza," "Today you cut out of education, tomorrow we will beg like hell" and "Decent wages. Dignified education."

They were also calling on the government to resign.

On Sunday, education unions announced that on Monday they will boycott the beginning of the school year, picket the headquarters of the Executive and organise a protest march to the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

"The Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, the Federation of Education Unions Spiru Haret and the National Trade Union Federation Alma Mater, as a sign of revolt against the provisions of Law 141/2025 regarding the educational system that causes an unprecedented crisis in education in the last 35 years, organise on September 8 the picketing of the headquarters of the Romanian Government, followed by a protest march to the Cotroceni Palace", the trade unionists announced in a press statement.

They said that the actions of the three trade union federations are intended to draw attention to the obligation to solve the problems faced by the staff in pre-university and higher education, as well as to the fact that education employees reject the political measures passed by the government to narrow the government deficit, with negative effects on the education system, but, first of all, on the beneficiaries of education.

"On September 8, instead of being at the department to celebrate the beginning of school, we, the teachers, will also 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 carrying out education, for justice. We are in the streets because the government has taken a series of measures that directly affect our work and, implicitly, the education we offer," the trade unionists said in a press release.


According to the trade unionists, the "efficiency" measures applied in the field of education under Law 141/2025 will have "a much higher cost" in the medium and long term, directly affecting the quality of education, the professional and social status of education employees, as well as the future of primary beneficiaries.

"Our protest is a protest to stop these abusive measures, through which we show that we do not agree that education and research in Romania should continue to be underfunded and disregarded. We must convince the governing class that education spending is an investment, not a cost. (...) Please understand the importance of our struggle and join us, as your future is also at stake, the future of the younger generations that are being formed and will be formed in the educational system. This year, for us, the first day will not have the same meaning. Please do not blame us for this decision to boycott the first day of school," the trade unionists said.

The unions claimed that "the new legislation, adopted without real consultation and without a serious impact study, has generated a series of problems".

"The increase in the teaching workload, the merger of educational establishments, the increase in the number of students in class and, last but not least, the increase in the teaching obligation for principals and inspectors - all these are burdens that we carry together, albeit from different perspectives (...) Our message is clear: the struggle of the trade union federations is not a fight against principals or inspectors. On the contrary, it is a fight for a sound, predictable and properly funded education system, a system in which each of us - teacher, principal, inspector - can carry out our work with professionalism and dignity. We are also convinced that the measure of increasing the teaching load on principals and inspectors means a much greater effort on the part of those who occupy these positions, and it is necessary to fight together for the repeal of this anti-education measure," the trade unions also said.