Education Minister Sorin Ciempeanu claims that the problem of schools in Romania still having toilets at the end of the yard is “exaggerated” and that “the toilet in the yard has nothing to do with the quality of education”: “Many of us studied well in these schools , I think there is evidence, but it needs to be resolved clearly, and it will be resolved.”

Kimpeanu made the comments on Wednesday, at the start of a government meeting, after Prime Minister Nicolae Chuke said there were “still quite a large number” of schools that still had toilets in the courtyards, which was “a stain on the image educational system”.

• “I am not at all shy to talk about what the image of the education system in Romania means when we talk about toilets in the school yard. Measures were taken to reduce the number of these educational units.
• But there is quite a large amount left and, from my point of view, this is unacceptable, therefore, yesterday in the mode of a video conference I appealed to all authorities, the leadership of the Ministry of Education, as well as local authorities with a request to present to me by the end of the year a plan according to which next year we will destroy this a stain on the image of the education system,” Chuke said at the beginning of the government meeting.

Kimpeanu then wanted to give him an answer, claiming that the problem was “exaggerated”.

• “On the other hand, the plan that you requested regarding the compliance of sanitary teams in schools, knowing that 3-4 years ago there were more than 2,000 schools with inadequate sanitary teams, if the local government uses the funding provided by the Ministry of Education budget, we will be left with 100 schools ( with a toilet in the yard – no. These are small schools.
• I believe that in two years there will be no school in Romania (with a toilet in the yard – no). Confidence will translate into a concrete plan of action, which we will present, Mr. Prime Minister, no earlier than the end of the year, and I want to think much earlier. I promise to present it sooner.
• This is an exaggerated problem that is often related to the quality of education. This is an important problem, it must be solved, but we must understand that the toilet in the yard has nothing to do with the quality of education, because many of us have studied well in these schools, I think this is a proof, but it must be solved, clearly and it will be resolved,” said Kimpeanu.