Summary

Description

Ombudsman’s proposals accepted
Following the Ombudsman’s proposals, the Ministry of Education issued two interesting circulars that were sent to all schools around the country: The first one focused on proposals of measures for the prevention and tackling of school violence (including school regulations, preventive activities, avoidance of excessive use of punishments, students participation and involvement in conflict resolution, peer mediation, etc) and the second on the rights of students with divorced parents, in particular clarifying the conditions of contact of children with parents who do not have custody in the school environment and other relevant issues. In addition, during 2011, some of the old proposals made by the Ombudsman for Children were accepted, as, for example, the withdrawal of reference to the child adoption status on school certificates.
Safe transfer of students to their schools
The Ombudsman approached the municipalities as well as other legal authorities in order to ensure the immediate implementation of additional and new traffic measures, in order to combat dangerous points in the local road network near schools.
Merging of school units
The Ombudsman recommended that such mergers be avoided in downgraded areas or areas overpopulated by foreign nationals, Roma or students with learning difficulties or other needs. The distances covered by students must be taken into consideration, as well as difficulties in accessing and transfers to/from schools. The creation of school units with high numbers of students should be avoided.
Short-term tuition in primary school units
The Ombudsman put forward proposals related to short-term tuition in primary school units, specifically as regards the minimum number of students, as well as the simplification of registration documents (submission of a simple declaration instead of a work certificate).