President Nicusor Dan sent a message on Monday to mark the start of the new school year, saying that education needs responsible measures based on data and an assessment of results, while any reform must be supported by dialogue, resources and time to produce results.

The head of state stressed that education is not limited to grades, school registers or exams, but also involves 'the confidence a teacher gives a pupil, the patience of a parent and the courage of a child to ask questions, make mistakes and try again.' Nicusor Dan also highlighted the role of schools in shaping adults capable of critical thinking, describing this as a mission that is 'harder than ever.'

'In a world where information circulates instantly and technology and artificial intelligence are becoming part of our daily lives, it is not enough to have rapid access to information. We need to know how to ask the right questions, check how true what we find in a simple internet search really is, distinguish between facts and disinformation and form our own opinions based on reliable sources of information,' Nicusor Dan said.

The president told teachers that he appreciates their work and stressed that any reform or investment in education depends on having well-trained teaching staff.

'I know that beyond programmes, rules and administrative challenges, your work means responsibility, professionalism and care for every pupil. I have the utmost appreciation for those working in schools and I believe that no reform and no investment can succeed without teachers who are respected, well trained and supported, including through working and pay conditions that reflect the importance of the profession,' Nicusor Dan told teachers.

Referring to education reforms, the head of state said they must be measures 'designed responsibly, built on data, on a genuine assessment of results and on what really works for the benefit of pupils', while any change must be accompanied by dialogue, resources and time to produce results.

'Over the past decades, Romanian society has changed profoundly and education has been affected by these transformations, some positive and others that have generated dissatisfaction. Sometimes changes came too quickly, without the time needed for preparation and adaptation, while at other times they were not implemented to completion or at all. This succession of reforms and rules has often generated a lack of trust and demotivation,' Nicusor Dan said.

The president told pupils that education is the safest investment in the future.

'School is not just the place where you acquire knowledge, but also where you begin to discover yourselves, develop and prepare for life. Curiosity, discipline, patience and the desire to learn are not important only for school. They are skills that will always help you, long after you have finished your studies and become adults,' Nicusor Dan said.

The head of state also advised pupils to maintain a balance between time spent online and direct interaction with their classmates and friends.

'School is also the place where you make new acquaintances, grow and mature. Do not neglect your interactions with others. The online environment can offer you options that capture your interest, but nothing can replace the unique experience of spending time with classmates and friends,' the head of state said.

Nicusor Dan urged parents to support teachers and continue the educational process at home.

'What is learned at school should naturally continue at home. Teachers, in turn, need the support and respect of parents. When school and family become partners, each child's chances of success increase exponentially,' the president said.

Nicusor Dan said Romania continues to face significant problems in the education system, including the conditions in which some children study.

'There are children who study in difficult conditions and communities waiting for solutions to the pressing problems they face. We must not ignore these realities. But it is equally important to see what is going well and, above all, the extraordinary potential of the younger generation,' Nicusor Dan said.

The president said every child in Romania must have access to quality education, regardless of where they were born, the community in which they live or their family's financial circumstances.

'Education remains one of the most important responsibilities we have towards Romania's future. A country does not change overnight. But without access to quality education capable of responding to the profound transformations taking place in the world and, above all, to the demands of a society undergoing accelerated change, we cannot hope to put Romania on a path of sustainable development,' Nicusor Dan said.

He stressed that making education a priority 'is not only a responsibility for the present, but above all a choice we are making now for future generations'.

On the first day of school, President Nicusor Dan will visit Secondary School No. 1 in Curcani Commune, Calarasi County. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)