The Ministry of Education has launched a public consultation on the rules for granting accommodation and meal subsidies for students

The Ministry of Education has launched a public consultation on the rules for granting accommodation and meal subsidies for students, as well as rent subsidies. To qualify for the rent subsidy, students must notify in writing the faculty where they are enrolled and attach a copy of the rental contract with proof of registration with the tax authorities.

RRA reporter Felicia Mocanu spoke with Sergiu Covaci, president of the National Alliance of Romanian Student Organizations.

Sergiu Covaci: "A subsidy is granted for the dormitory part, there is a calculation formula, of course, it depends very much on the quality of the student, whether they are Romanian, from the EU, from the European Economic Area, whether they are on full-time attendance, whether they are teaching staff. Those who are not in dormitories and have opted for another type of accommodation and will qualify for these subsidies should receive them retroactively. We are waiting for some rules, we are waiting for some specific conditions to define practically who is eligible for this subsidy. It's also the first time that such an order is coming out, and then it will be quite 'at the beginning' of the process. In practice, before there was this order there were similar conditions for social grants."

"Students admitted to fee-paying places may be provided with accommodation and board facilities against payment of a fee and grants awarded exclusively from the higher education institutions' own income or from funds allocated for this purpose by economic operators, non-governmental organizations or local public authorities."

Translated by: Radu Matei