The Gender Equality Platform and the National Coalition ”Life Without Domestic Violence” expressed their disappointment and regret at the negative appraisal given by the Government to a bill to extend the crèche services nationwide. The NGOs sent a letter to Prime Minister Pavel Filip whereby they warn about the lack of progress in creating ante-preschool education services, IPN reports.

The signatories remind that the bill received a negative appraisal on Aril 13, as it happened in 2015 and 2016. In its appraisals, the Government invoked juridical incongruity aspects and lack of financial resources. In 2016, the Government was to submit proposals concerning the organization and financing of ante-preschool education services to Parliament.

The Gender Equality Platform and the National Coalition ”Life Without Domestic Violence” said the  invoking of the lack of financial resources when the authorities identify sufficient funds for other ambitious, but less relevant projects shows sheer lack of political will.

The signatories ask to organize a meeting with the involvement of Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Minister of Education, Culture and Research Monica Babuc to discuss the proposals to amend the Education Code so as to extend the access to crèche services. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Research is asked to finalize such amendments and propose them for public debates within 30 days.

They also request to treat the development and extension of crèche services as a priority of major importance in the education sector in 2019-2021 and to work out a national program for extending the crèche services by which the authorities will aim to achieve a crèche services coverage rate of at least 50% until 2021.

Making reference to data of the National Bureau of Statistics, the ONOs said only 11.4% of the children younger than three had access to early education institutions in 2016. The signatories noted that the lack of crèche services are an obstacle that prevent the women from becoming employed.