Baccalaureate exams have been postponed in Romania as the country’s teacher strike goes into its third week.
Romania’s Education Minister Ligia Deca says the high school exam will begin on 14 June after being pushed back by two days by the walk-out.
More than 150,0000 teachers in Romania have been on strike since May, the first time since 2005. Unions are asking for an increase in salaries, overtime pay, and more supplies.
A Romanian teacher’s starting monthly salary is the equivalent of just over $520 about half the national average.
Romania’s government adopted a memorandum that says teachers will receive an increase in their salary next year.
The move could mean that new teachers’ salaries will be similar to the national average income.
From 1 January 2024, salaries will reportedly increase through phases, with the first installment being a raise of 45%.
After announcement, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă called on teachers to end the strike.
„I am convinced that the teachers understand the call to reason and trust that I am working on behalf of the government to end this strike,” he said. „These are political accountabilities.”
However, teachers remain unconvinced, saying the commitment is not legally binding. Thousands of teachers from all over the country gathered at outside the government headquarters for a rally on Friday.
