Romanian ninth-graders face shortage of textbooks

Ninth-grade students in Romania are facing significant academic challenges due to a lack of both printed and digital textbooks. Despite the introduction of new curricula and framework plans this year, students have entered their third week of school without the necessary instructional materials.

Education Minister Mihai Dimian had previously announced that digital versions would be available by mid-September, but they have yet to arrive. Printed textbooks are not expected to be distributed until October at the earliest. Consequently, teachers are forced to write extensive notes, formulas, and definitions on blackboards to compensate for the missing resources.

Students have reported that the absence of books makes it difficult to study independently or clarify concepts learned in class. Carolina Savin, president of the Union of Representative Students, noted that ninth-graders are starting high school at a major disadvantage because they lack the tools required to study the new curriculum.