Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest criticizes the degradation of respect for education

The Rector of the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Mihnea Costoiu, launched a firm appeal in defense of education and the role of teachers in society, stating that Romania risks compromising its future if school continues to be disregarded. The message was delivered during the first ceremony dedicated to the Class of 2026 "Academician Constantin Budeanu", an event at which the graduates with the best academic results from the 21 faculties of the university were awarded. The National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest organized, for the first time, a ceremony dedicated exclusively to the class leaders of the 21 faculties. This year, 13 of them completed their studies with a general average of 10, being distinguished during the ceremony in which they took the engineer's oath and received their graduation diplomas. This year's class is named after academician Constantin Budeanu, one of the leading figures in Romanian technical education.

• "The school is put up against the wall by those who did not stay in it for too long"

In his speech to the graduates, Rector Mihnea Costoiu called for gratitude towards the teachers who marked their educational path and criticized the public climate in which, in his opinion, education is increasingly discredited.

"Do not forget those who trained you, your teacher and professor, those who worked hard for you to be here," he told them. The rector stated that the school is "disregarded”, "put against the wall” and "humiliated”, especially by people who have not had a genuine connection with the education system, adding that the problem goes beyond the status of teachers and concerns the future of Romanian society. "This is not about teachers' jobs or respect for them. This is about this country”, said Mihnea Costoiu. In his opinion, without teachers and professors "this country perishes”.

• Criticism of the lack of education and disinformation

Another central message of the speech concerned the need for discernment in a society dominated by contradictory information and opinions formulated without foundation. The rector urged the graduates to distinguish between truth and falsehood, between good and evil, between competence and imposture, warning about the effects that the lack of education produces in the public space. According to him, society is increasingly influenced by people who issue definitive judgments without expertise, a phenomenon that he associated with the degradation of the level of education. He recommended that young people not uncritically accept the information they encounter and to maintain their independence of thought. "Don't believe everything you hear or even what you see. Even salt looks like sugar. Think with your mind and try to understand before judging,” the rector told them.

• The Polytechnic Diploma, "a quality standard”

Mihnea Costoiu emphasized that graduating from the Polytechnic of Bucharest does not only mean obtaining an internationally recognized university degree, but also belonging to a professional community that, for over two centuries, has been contributing to the development of Romania's infrastructure, industry and economy. In his opinion, the institution's reputation represents a guarantee of professional standards and the responsibility that graduates carry in their careers. At the end of his speech, the rector insisted on moral values, stating that professional success cannot compensate for a lack of character. "If you lose money, you have lost nothing. If you lose your health, you have lost something important. But if you lose your character, you have lost everything," he told the graduates. He encouraged them to appreciate people of good faith, to remain involved in society and to maintain their moral balance in a social context that he described as increasingly marked by polarization and superficiality.