{"id":135,"date":"2023-08-01T21:44:26","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T18:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.romaniacurata.ro\/servicii-publice-locale\/en\/?p=135"},"modified":"2024-01-05T22:43:53","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T19:43:53","slug":"history-of-the-student-representation-movement-in-timis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.romaniacurata.ro\/servicii-publice-locale\/en\/2023\/08\/01\/history-of-the-student-representation-movement-in-timis\/","title":{"rendered":"History of the student representation movement in Timis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article by Natanael Iriciuc, volunteer within GIL Sector 1.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Following the evolution of the project <\/span>“Active Citizens for Quality Local Public Services”<\/span><\/i><\/a> carried out by the Romanian Academic Society, we noticed the emphasis on youth involvement at local level. When we talk about mechanisms through which young people can get involved at the local level, the most present option is volunteering in non-governmental organisations. As for students’ civic spirit, it is being harnessed by student representation structures that focus on representing students’ rights, which is why I set out to produce an X-ray of student representation movements in several Romanian counties to highlight their importance in the development of young people and in creating communities where students’ voices and rights are important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first movement to represent students in Timis County is the <\/span>Timis County Council of Students<\/span><\/a>, a structure of the National Council of Students. The Pupils’ Council was set up by the Ministry of Education in order to create a structure at national level that can ensure the right to representation of every pupil in Romania. Being a structure that relies heavily on the involvement of the internal team, there have been periods when the voice of this structure was extremely important in the relationship with the local authorities and periods when the public presence of this structure was lower. Among the most important actions carried out by CJE Timis are: the petition “I’m a major, get me out of here”, signed by more than 1,000 students whose right to leave the school premises was violated; the launch of the illustrated student guide through which any student in Timis county can know their rights by means of illustrations; the support of students by initiating several protests which were focused on the lack of respect of students’ rights to transport and quality education.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There was a time when students felt the need to build their own representation mechanisms through which they could directly contribute to the reform of the student representation movement in Romania. Thus, the year 2013 was represented by the establishment of the first students’ association in Romania, an association that aimed to add to the student representation movement in Romania through this non-governmental organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For 10 years these students’ associations have been expanding in several counties of Romania, and the beginning of 2022 brought this independent movement of students’ representation to Timis county with the establishment of <\/span>the Timis Students’ Association<\/span><\/a>. Thus, the movement of students’ representation in Timis county has grown by the existence of a new organization that wants to represent the interests of Timis students. In a year and a half of activity, the Timis Students’ Association has distinguished itself through initiatives such as the Eco Week in schools and high schools; the initiation of a mechanism through which students can report the abuses they encounter in schools; Inspiration for young people – a project through which students have met people whose life stories can inspire them as well as public positions aimed at defending students’ rights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since I have emphasized the role that local authorities have in supporting student representation movements, I addressed the Timis County School Inspectorate to present the importance of student representation in the vision of this institution. I received a reply from the general school inspector, Aura Danielescu, who talks about how this student voice has grown in Timis County.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Students and their teachers!\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A lot has changed in recent years! And I say this because in Timis, students have started to have a voice! A young, polite voice, a voice that makes itself heard by those who want to recognise that the younger generation is different.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

We are happy to feel them close, to see them for several years, how they organize themselves, to watch them grow, how they have dreams and ideals, how they can sit at the negotiating table, how they try to enter, with representatives, in every school in the county.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

I’m still at the beginning, but the last 2 or 3 years have been a real joy for us. We’ve had them at almost every event we’ve organized, we’ve been close to them when they’ve asked for us, and we’ve assisted and supported them during their extensive organizing activities in their schools. Somehow…their movement has led to our movement. ISJ Timis became a partner in education, left the door open to any form of dialogue, discussed, appreciated and most importantly…understood that without change, we lose a beautiful generation, capable of something else, something they and we need.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It is extremely important to see them moving in the right direction, becoming opinion leaders at a young age, being prepared to stand up for their principles, and…slowly, slowly, becoming adults!\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

If 5-6 years ago we didn’t have them at the table, now they are there where they should be, representing over 100 thousand children and carrying the message of the young people from Timis, making their voice heard all the way to the capital!\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

I’m happy to have had the chance to meet them, to be part of this great transformation!” <\/span><\/i>Prof. Aura Danielescu<\/span><\/p>\n

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In order to see what the students in Timis County think about student representation, we asked for feedback from a student in Timisoara who pointed out that\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Representing students means commitment, dedication and courage. It means wanting to make your voice heard even when no one notices you and when others laugh in your face. It means having the courage to stand up and say what bothers you and what’s wrong. It means being the voice of those who haven’t yet found the courage to speak out.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can lead to change. Representing students means fighting for your rights, no matter what, no matter what people say, and continuing to fight for a better future.” <\/span><\/i>Emilia H\u00e2rceag\u0103, student\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If we want the direction of local communities to reflect young people’s expectations of the future, it is extremely important that they are present in the decision-making process that directly involves them. The main purpose of these representative movements is to convey the needs of the community they represent to local authorities. Thus, through regular debates with young people, by including them in advisory councils and by making use of ideas from young people, local authorities can contribute to the development of generations of young people in their community.<\/span><\/p>\n

The project is run by the Romanian Academic Society in partnership with Act For Tomorrow Association and Vellenes Fellesorganisasjon with the financial support of Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through EEA Grants 2014-2021. The aim of the project is to increase the capacity for mobilization and civic engagement, especially among young people, by developing a set of monitoring and advocacy methods and tools to improve the quality of public transport, education and waste management services provided by local public administrations in urban areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The project is implemented by The Romanian Academic Society in partnership with the Act For Tomorrow Association and Vellenes Fellesorganisasjon and benefits from a 249.989 euros grant from Active Citizens Fund Romania, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants Grants 2014 -2021. The content of this website does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information, visit\u00a0www.eeagrants.org<\/a>. More details about Active Citizens Fund Romania are available at\u00a0www.activecitizensfund.ro<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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