Students take to the streets, in the spotlight: austerity and the future of education

The Romanian government adopted a series of fiscal and budgetary measures this fall aimed at reducing the deficit. However, among the first areas targeted is education - by cutting rail transport facilities for students and reducing the scholarship fund. Although these cuts may seem minor in relation to the budget hole, according to those involved, they send a dangerous message: education is treated as an expense, not an investment.

• Disproportionate social effects

According to the analysis made by the National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania (ANOSR), the financial impact on the state budget is insignificant, but the social impact is huge. Free transport and scholarships represent basic support for thousands of young people from vulnerable backgrounds. Eliminating these facilities will not encourage financial responsibility, but school dropout, especially in the case of students from low-income families. In a country where the early school leaving rate is already among the highest in the EU, the current measures risk widening social gaps.

• Consequences on the labor market

Higher education is not only a constitutional right, but also a strategic factor for economic development. Reducing support for students will not only generate social discontent, but also long-term effects on the labor market: Decrease in the number of higher education graduates at a time when Romania needs a qualified workforce; Increase in youth migration to countries where education is more accessible and more state-supported; Weakening of economic competitiveness in the medium and long term, through the reduction of human capital.

• Political and symbolic message

The Executive's decision is perceived not only as an austerity measure, but also as evidence of ignorance and lack of dialogue. Students have constantly complained about the lack of consultation and the fact that the proposed solutions were ignored. While previous governments have repeatedly declared education a "national priority,” the current reality shows exactly the opposite.

ANOSR's call for the September 29 protest in Victoriei Square is becoming more than a simple student demand. It is turning into a test of social solidarity, at a time when Romania is facing a major dilemma: how to reduce the deficit without sacrificing the future. After all, the discussion is not about a few million lei saved through scholarships and transportation, but about what kind of society Romania wants: one in which education is supported and encouraged or one in which access to education becomes a privilege for those with resources.