President Nicușor Dan's reaction following the violent attacks in schools in Bistrița and Pitești

Medeea Stănescu

22 October 2026, 15:36

Current Affairs

Foto: Shutterstock

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President Nicușor Dan reacted on Thursday following two violent attacks committed in less than a week at schools in Bistrița and Pitești, stating that the incidents represent “signals that we can no longer afford to ignore.” The head of state emphasized that laws and rules against violence are not sufficient if they are not effectively enforced.

Nicușor Dan called for intervention from the very first signs of aggression, as well as better communication between students, teachers, and parents. He highlighted the role of teachers and school counselors in identifying violent behavior and insisted that students should be able to ask for help without fear.

“Every child has the right to learn in a safe environment, to be protected from violence, and to receive support when needed. These rights must be respected both in the real world and online. Children’s safety online must concern us, and solutions need to emerge from dialogue among authorities, specialists, teachers, parents, and students,” Nicușor Dan emphasized.

The president also drew attention to online harassment, which he says must be combated through a joint effort by authorities, specialists, schools, and families. He called for safer schools, teachers trained to intervene, real access to psychological counseling, and measures to protect minors in the digital space.

Context: before Nicușor Dan’s reaction, authorities and education stakeholders called for firm measures to ensure safety in schools

Before Thursday’s statement, Raluca Turcan (PNL) called for urgent measures to protect students and said that there were legislative solutions stalled in Parliament, proposing audio-video monitoring in schools, psychological counseling for students in high-risk situations, and banning phones during classes, with their storage in specially designated spaces. She also mentioned projects concerning the protection of minors from violent or harmful online content and limiting access to social networks for those under 16 without parental consent.

Subsequently, Education Minister (Sorin Costreie) announced that he would propose doubling the penalties for assaults against teachers and school staff and raised preventive measures for discussion, such as checking schoolbags at the school entrance and installing metal detectors, alongside approaches related to violence, bladed weapons, and the influence of social networks.

Also during the preceding period, Prime Minister Luca Niculescu said that an urgent action plan for school security would be drawn up, with the participation of the Ministry of the Interior, teachers, psychologists, and education representatives. In parallel, education unions called for concrete measures and criticized the system’s underfunding, including the abolition of security guard positions and the lack of school psychologists, warning of nationwide protests if no changes were made.