The Ministry of Education has a backup option for external examinations if the teachers’ strike continues. The solution, as Minister Ligia Deka said, will be the extension of the academic year.

“There is a decision, if this term is extended, we will also extend the school year. There is no such option that we do not finish the academic year in good conditions, do not finish the average indicators, do not pass the external examination. Everything will happen, even if it means extending the school year. My message to those protesting is to understand that we are making every effort and that the Ministry of Education supports them in demanding their rights to fair wages, but at the same time we must think about how we manage to ensure national examinations, the end of the situation in school and the right to education for all,” said the Minister of Education on Antena 1, when asked what the worst case scenario was in the event of a strike in education.

“Today registration for the bachelor’s degree begins, but we are talking about the registration period, this is the period from May 29 to June 7. There is time to complete these registrations. If there is a need, we will continue, but for now we have training units where we can do this registration, where we can provide human resources in this sense. For other educational institutions, we hope that the protest will be completed as soon as possible and we will remain in the announced period, which ends on June 7,” said Ligia Deca on Antena 1.

Also, the minister showed that the average indicators should be fulfilled, according to the school calendar, by the end of this week.

“If the situation requires it, we can change the structure of the school year for those who study in the twelfth or thirteenth grade in such a way as to allow the necessary time for the closing of the schools, as well as for the registration for the bachelor’s exam,” Deka also revealed.

She noted that the Ministry of Education will take all measures to complete the schooling of all students and ensure participation in external examinations.

“We will not leave any student without a well-rounded situation and without the opportunity, if he is in the 8th grade or in the 12th grade, to pass the exams that he needs to move on,” the minister said.

Regarding those students who want to take exams at universities abroad and are dependent on this strict calendar, the minister said: “We will make every effort to be able to guarantee access to national exams. Of course, there are special, punctual situations. We will also be in contact with colleagues from other states to explain the real situation, and I believe that everything will be resolved in such a way that we will finish the year well if this deadline is extended,” the minister added.

She also referred to the consequences of the PZP, which changes the rule of suspension of the employment contract. The Minister of Education Ligia Deka explained that once the strike continues, the employment contract is no longer suspended by law.

“According to the order, it is the choice of the employee, the employee informs if he wants to suspend the employment contract. If they do not express this option, then we are only talking about the option of a strike, of course, with consequences regarding the signing of the condition on this day and the impact on the actual days worked,” she said. (news.ro)