A new school year starts today in Romania, but without new textbooks for hundreds of first and second graders, after the tender for new books was contested by some publishing houses. Until a court ruling, children will study using old textbooks.

The lack of new textbooks for children is not the only problem at the beginning of this new school year. The teacher’s code of ethics, promised several times by the Ministry of Education, is not yet ready either, reports local Digi24. The need for a code of ethics emerged after several corruption scandals in schools. Among others, the project prohibits teachers to receive funds and gifts, to give private lesson to children or involve them in political activities.

For now, both the code of ethics and the schools’ internal regulations are under public debate.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com