Niculescu promises school safety plan after Bistrița knife attack
Police presence near schools, zero tolerance for violence and knives, and psychologists where needed: the PM's response after a 13-year-old attacked a teacher.
Romania's Prime Minister Luca Niculescu announced on Wednesday a "concrete action plan" for safety in schools, drawn up with the Interior Ministry, parents' representatives, psychologists' associations and teachers. It includes an active, preventive presence in school areas, zero tolerance for violence and for carrying knives, and real psychological support in every school that needs it.
"The safety of pupils and teachers is the red line from which we will not deviate," Niculescu wrote on Facebook, after the handover at the Education Ministry from Mihai Dimian to the new minister, Sorin Costreie. "Schools in Romania must once again become places of safety and respect."
The announcement follows an attack on Monday in Bistrița, where a 13-year-old pupil knocked on the door of a younger class and lunged at the teacher with a knife when she opened it. Another pupil who stepped in was also injured. The attacker is being treated at a child psychiatry clinic in Cluj-Napoca. Minister Costreie has said tougher penalties for attacks on teachers are being considered, and even checks on pupils' backpacks.
Niculescu said the government will also protect and expand programmes for vulnerable pupils, such as hot school meals and after-school care, correct earlier legislative shortcomings gradually in dialogue with teachers and unions, and push ahead with digitalising education, linked to the RO Wallet digital document app.