“The government gave them everything they asked for, on what basis to continue the strike?” What it says about National Exams

Klaus Iohannis, the President of Romania, said on Thursday in Chisinau that the Government has offered everything that the teachers asked for, and from next week they hope that the teachers will return to class.

Iohannis says the teachers got what they asked for

“The strike lasted a little long and the question arises as to who is negotiating for the teachers, because the union leaders keep coming and going, but they are just a kind of interface, like you are the media, the Government tells them something or I, they go and people consult them. It is extremely difficult to imagine how a negotiation can work on this basis, that is why the prime minister decided very correctly to give this ordinance, regardless of how it is negotiated. Why? Because all of us and I and the Government and the coalition understood that they are legitimate requests and guarantee them regardless of what is negotiated with these union representatives.

I hope that this issue is well understood at the level of the system and that people return to school on Tuesday, because they no longer have anything to strike for. In the medium and long term it was guaranteed, in the short term increases were given, and for the year 2024 guarantees were given in writing by ordinance that the Government will stick to what it promised. Then I think that a lot of teachers who anyway considered that it was already too much, will simply return to school and do well”, declared Klaus Iohannis, in a press conference held at the end of the the second meeting of the European Political Community from the Republic of Moldova.

Moreover, the head of state said that the teachers’ strike endangers the teachers’ exams.

“It’s a whole generation that has to pass the Baccalaureate and go to universities. So it puts them in trouble? It’s a whole generation taking the aptitude test. After the Government gave them everything they asked for. Once again, he gave them everything they asked for. Now on what grounds should the strike continue? And if the national and county union leaders do not understand each other, the teachers will understand this signal very well”, declared Klaus Iohannis.

The statements of the head of state come after the Government adopted today the GEO by which teachers’ salaries are increased. The government’s decision to pass this ordinance has not pleased the teachers who say they will continue the general strike.