Minister of Education Proposes Advisory Council of Former Ministers to Ensure Continuity of Reforms

The Minister of Education and Research, Sorin Costreie, is considering the establishment of an advisory council focused on key issues in education and research, to be composed of former ministers who have held the portfolio. The initiative aims to ensure the continuity of public policies and prevent the abandonment of reforms whenever there is a change in the ministry's leadership. This proposal was discussed during a meeting organized by Sorin Costreie with former Ministers of Education and Research who served after 1990. The Minister described the gathering as a first for the institution, asserting that the experience of those who previously held the portfolio could contribute to improving the system.

• Reforms should not have to start from scratch with every new term

Sorin Costreie believes that education is a field where changes require time to yield results, and that public policies should not have to be rebuilt every time the ministry's leadership changes. "Education cannot be rebuilt with every new term; it is a long-term endeavor, which makes the continuity of public policies all the more important," the Minister stated in a Facebook post. He explained that the objective is to retain solutions that have proven effective while correcting those that have failed, ensuring that ongoing reforms are not abandoned due to political or administrative shifts. "My reasoning is simple: we build upon what works, and we improve what doesn't. Furthermore, expertise must take precedence over political affiliations," stated Sorin Costreie.

• Former ministers invited to contribute to education policy

The meeting was attended by Ecaterina Andronescu, Monica Anisie, Ligia Deca, Anton Anton, Cristian Adomniţei, Alexandru Athanasiu, Daniel Breaz, Mihnea Costoiu, Adrian Curaj, Mihai Dimian, Pavel Năstase, and Remus Pricopie. The minister indicated that he would organize another meeting for those former officeholders who were unable to attend the first session. Following this stage, the groundwork will be laid for an advisory council.

This body is intended to provide a framework for consultation on key issues in education and research, leveraging the experience gained by those who previously led the sector. The initiative comes against the backdrop of an education system that has undergone numerous organizational changes and reforms over the past few decades. It remains to be determined how the future council will function, what its composition will be, and to what extent its recommendations will be incorporated into the ministry's decision-making process.