Romania boosts funding for social work studies for rural town hall employees

Romania's Ministry of Labor, Family, Youth, and Social Solidarity (MMFTSS) has raised the funding for university studies in social assistance to 35,450 lei. This financial support is specifically for employees of rural town halls who are pursuing degrees in social work under the SCI2000 project.

The maximum financial aid per beneficiary has increased from 29,300 lei to 35,450 lei, covering three years of university study and related expenses. The ministry stated this decision addresses rising education costs and aims to prevent employees from abandoning specialization due to financial constraints, particularly those dedicated to assisting vulnerable populations in their communities.

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The decision comes in the context of rising education costs and aims to ensure that no employee wishing to specialize to better support vulnerable people in their community gives up for financial reasons.

Funding includes enrollment and tuition fees, the bachelor's exam fee, and necessary travel and accommodation costs for attending classes and exams. It also covers the registration fee for the National College of Social Workers in Romania upon graduation. A total of 200 town hall employees will benefit from this professional development opportunity.

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Investment in training specialists is one of the components of the SCI2000 project. In many rural localities, social assistance duties are performed by employees who work with dedication but without specialized university training.

Project manager Ștefania Andreescu highlighted that investing in specialist training is a core component of the SCI2000 project. She noted that many rural areas rely on dedicated employees without specialized university training to handle social assistance duties. By funding these studies, beneficiaries gain the skills needed to provide quality social services and better address the needs of children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and families in difficulty.

The SCI2000 project, funded by the European Social Fund Plus, is a large-scale EU social inclusion initiative. Implemented by the Ministry of Labor in partnership with other ministries and agencies, it aims to develop integrated community services in 2,000 Romanian communes. The project seeks to improve access to social, medical, and educational services for approximately 450,000 vulnerable individuals.

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SCI2000 will contribute to the development of integrated community services in 2,000 communes in Romania and to improving access to social, medical, and educational services for approximately 450,000 vulnerable people.