Children and young people of Roma ethnicity will have a quota of 10% of the total available places for admission to the first and tenth grades. They will also have reserved places at colleges and universities. The decision was announced by the Ministry of Education and Research and applies from the following academic year, reports IPN.
Special measures are also provided for admission to vocational-technical and higher education. Roma ethnicity candidates will not pay the admission fee for the competition and will be able to occupy places financed by the state budget. At the same time, young people initially admitted to fee-paying studies will be able to be subsequently transferred to the budgeted places reserved.
In parallel, the authorities have announced the launch of a new edition of the Merit Scholarship Program for Roma ethnicity pupils and students. In the next academic year, a monthly financial support of 1,200 lei will be allocated for a maximum of 120 young people, including 60 high school students, 15 vocational school students, 20 students from post-secondary professional-technical institutions, and 25 university students.
The measures were presented during a meeting attended by representatives of the educational authorities, Roma organizations, and community mediators. According to the ministry, the initiative aims to facilitate the access to education for Roma children and young people and to contribute to reducing school dropout and absenteeism.
