All schools will start on Monday with in-person classes, Education Minister Ligia Deca announced on Wednesday, mentioning that there are over 3 million students.

„Regarding the situation of schools at the beginning of the school year, according to the information received in the videoconference, all schools will start on Monday with all in-person classes. Solutions have to be found for all children to go to school in person and we have called on local public administrations and inspectorates to collaborate to identify alternative space solutions,” Deca said after a government meeting.

She said that there are over 900 relocated schools, including over 800 for rehabilitation, modernisation or addition of new spaces.

„There is a record number of schools, because, as you know, through European funds and investments under national programmes, we are changing the face of schools everywhere. At the beginning of last school year, we had around 500 schools relocated for rehabilitation, modernisation or construction reasons, this year we have 300 more. Apart from this reason, relocation in other instances was the result of insufficient space.”

Deca said that all children will go to school in person in identified spaces where teaching is possible. She added that each local public administration together with school managements and the inspectorates have identified alternative spaces where teaching can be carried out smoothly.

„And, this way, either at other schools or in other spaces, children go to school every day, and when the works are completed – many will be completed by the end of December – they will return to the main premises of the schools to which they belong,” said Deca.

She added that there are 19 educational establishments nationwide where learning will be done in three shifts, and their situation will be partially solved with the commissioning of new or renovated premises.

The minister also mentioned schools with non-compliant toilets, saying that their number has decreased to 70.

AGERPRES