Before the unions’ request to cut red tape in the evaluation of applications for social scholarships, the Ministry of Education put up for public debate a draft decision providing for the elimination of social scholarship payments during school holidays, maintaining their award only during the school term. The draft was criticized for lacking explanations in the substantiation note and for restricting an existing right under the previous methodology.
At the same time, organizations such as Save the Children and World Vision Romania called on the Ministry not to eliminate social scholarship payments during holidays, arguing that poverty does not disappear once classes end. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that students’ allowances and scholarships would remain unchanged, specifying that the current allocation system would most likely continue in its existing form.
There have also been discussions about the manner of awarding scholarships and the eligibility verification conditions, including with reference to the legal obligations of class teachers and scholarship management committees, as well as previous recommendations to transfer responsibility to local administrations.
