Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Monday sent a message to pupils starting the new school year, wishing them success and results commensurate with their efforts. The prime minister stressed that the new school year is beginning as one of the largest investment programmes in education is being completed, worth more than 2.5 billion euros, with funding coming from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), local budgets and the national budget.

'Best of luck to all the pupils starting school today! I wish them a good year, with results that match their efforts and as many new things learned as possible. I wish parents patience and strength to support them throughout the year, and I thank teachers for doing their job with dedication, day after day. The new school year begins as one of the largest investment programmes in education is being completed: more than 2.5 billion euros allocated through the PNRR, local budgets and the national budget,' Bolojan wrote on his Facebook page.

The interim prime minister also outlined the main investments made in educational infrastructure, including the modernisation of classrooms and the provision of schools with new furniture and equipment.

'What has this meant? The modernisation of classrooms, new furniture and equipment in more than 90,000 classrooms and school facilities, across more than 4,000 schools. A digital leap for secondary schools, with more than 1,000 secondary schools equipped with smart laboratories. New nurseries for children - more than 100 nurseries have been built, providing over 6,600 new places for children. Support for vocational education - seven campuses for dual education have been built and equipped,' Bolojan highlighted.

Bolojan also mentioned measures aimed at reducing school dropout rates and supporting pupils from vulnerable communities.

'More than 1,500 schools have received support to reduce school dropout rates, so that as many pupils as possible can have access to quality education, regardless of the area in which they live. (...) More than 95,000 teachers have received training in digital pedagogy, so that the new equipment can be used as effectively as possible in the learning process. Allocations for education are investments whose benefits are seen generation after generation,' Bolojan further stated. AGERPRES (RO: writing by: Daniel Florea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)