Students protest in front of the Government and in several university centers across the country against the Executive’s intention to reduce scholarship funds: “You don’t build wealth off scholarships!”

Students are protesting in Piața Victoriei in Bucharest, as well as in several university cities across Romania, in opposition to the Government’s intention to cut funding for student scholarships and reduce the number of beneficiaries.

Despite forecasts of extreme heat reaching up to 40°C, students are continuing the protest, demanding that the Government abandon its plan to revise the calculation method for the national scholarship fund. They insist the current model—linking it to 10% of the gross minimum wage, as specified by law—must be maintained, rather than switching to the net minimum wage, which would significantly lower funding.

Placards held by protesters read: “You don’t build wealth off scholarships,” “We are not expenses, we are investments,” and “You still wonder why I want to leave the country?”

Over a hundred students gathered on Thursday in front of the Government, defying the heatwave, expressing strong opposition to the Executive’s proposed change in how scholarships are calculated—a change that would lead to both reduced funding and fewer recipients.

Protesters chanted slogans such as:
 “No scholarships, no learning – Romania’s future is reversing!”
“Beware, pay attention – they’re cutting from students again!”
“You refuse to fund education – and now you starve the students!”

Placards bore messages including:
 “We are not expenses, we are investments,”
“You don’t build wealth off scholarships,”
“You still wonder why I want to leave the country?”
“No scholarships means killing our future.”

According to ANOSR (National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania), the protest targets the newly formed Romanian Government’s intention to reduce the budget allocated for scholarships and implicitly lower the number of student beneficiaries.

 “The Government’s proposed model of allocating 10% of the net minimum wage per state-funded student—approximately 220 lei—compared to the current amount of 370 lei, calculated based on 10% of the gross minimum wage as of November 2024, would result in a nearly 40% reduction in total scholarship funding and, consequently, fewer beneficiaries,” ANOSR stated. 

ANOSR President Sergiu Covaci called the reduction “unacceptable” and warned that shifting the calculation basis from gross to net wages, contrary to the current legislation, would worsen inequalities and undermine access to higher education.

“We’re talking about a country already marked by social inequalities, limited access to education, and a high university dropout rate. This is not the moment for the state to retreat from its responsibilities. We believe this measure should be withdrawn entirely. That’s why we’re here in Piața Victoriei, and why these protests will continue,” said Covaci. 

ANOSR emphasized that the governing coalition’s 2025–2028 program includes the intention to change the scholarship fund formula, basing it on the net minimum wage instead of the gross, in direct contradiction to Article 149(21) of Law no. 199/2023 on higher education. The organization is calling on students across all university centers—especially in Bucharest—to join the movement and send a clear message: cutting education funding deepens systemic inequality and restricts access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

 “As we have previously shown in numerous statements and policy analyses, reducing the national budget deficit will not be achieved by weakening support and inclusion mechanisms for students. Without such support, many students would be forced to either abandon their studies or make unsustainable sacrifices, preventing them from reaching the academic performance expected of them.” 

ANOSR further stressed that these unnecessary austerity measures are being proposed in a context where only 22.5% of young Romanians aged 24–35 have completed higher education, while the university dropout rate exceeds 40%.

Similar student protests took place Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in several cities:

• Timișoara – in front of the Prefecture
• Cluj-Napoca – at the Memorandists Monument
• Baia Mare – in front of the Palace of Justice
• Alba Iulia – at the Horea, Cloșca and Crișan Obelisk
• Iași – in Unirii Square
• Suceava – in front of Building A of Suceava University

ANOSR brings together students from 20 university centers, representing 31 universities and 134 student organizations, united in the effort to preserve the student movement and defend access to quality education in Romania.

Witten by Andreea Unturica | 26 iunie 2025, 12:19