Students demand from the Ministry of Education time for extracurricular activities and rest, as well as clear regulations for homework
Students demand the right to rest and to have free time, as well as clear regulations of homework, so that these are given for support rather than evaluation, according to a new status project initiated and coordinated by the Save the Children organization.
Most of the students who participated in a consultation conducted by the organization stated that they do not have enough time for recreational, cultural and sports activities due to "exaggerated" school assignments outside the school schedule, according to a statement transmitted on February 1st by Save the Children.
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Following the consultation, a group of children's representatives, volunteers from Save the Children Romania, as well as representatives of the Students' Association from Constanța, Bucharest-Ilfov and Vâlcea, submitted on February 1st to the Ministry of Education a draft of the "Student Status 2.0".
The draft legislation was developed following consultations and debates that gathered over 1,100 students and their representatives from all counties in the last weeks, in a process coordinated by Save the Children Romania.
According to the mentioned statement, the Ministry of Education is requested to include in the new status the right to receive an electronic device with internet access for online education and virtual educational resources. Additionally, it calls for the regulation of equal and non-discriminatory treatment in schools based on the administrative-jurisdictional practice of the National Council for Combating Discrimination and the cases reported in recent years by Save the Children.
Non-discriminatory access to school is defined in the project so that students can use all access routes and, at the same time, not have their right to education violated for reasons, such as delays or the lack of distinctive signs.
The project introduces a procedure for the protection of students who make various public interest notifications so that they are no longer punished when they report irregularities and abuses in the education system, Save the Children further states.
The document also proposes changes to the rules regarding the disciplinary responsibility of students, correlated with the provisions of the Civil Code, so that it starts at the age of 14. It is also considered that the expulsion of students can only be done for crimes and only after taking some measures depriving them of their freedom.
The proposal includes adopting the minimum hygiene and health regulations required in educational facilities from other legal documents. Additionally, it encompasses guidelines aimed at preventing and addressing bullying and cyberbullying, along with provisions for students to provide feedback on the performance of teaching personnel.
Students ask the Ministry of Education to take over their draft and form a working group to establish a form that will be subjected to public consultation.
"Student Status 2.0" is supported by Save the Children Romania, the Students' Association from Constanța, Bucharest-Ilfov, Maramureș, Timiș, Bacău, Vâlcea, the Union of Hungarian High School Students (Makosz), as well as the Coalition for Education Federation.
