A Romanian education ministry official has resigned after saying that schools should teach young women to how to walk provocatively.

At a press conference Tuesday, Vasile Salaru, said Romanian schools should teach female students how to walk wearing high heels, dance the tango, be a good host and walk enticingly in public. He said girls should walk with "chest out, bottom out, let the boys faint!"

Several student organizations protested his comments and called for his resignation. They also reported him to the National Anti-Discrimination Council.

Salaru, state secretary in the education ministry, resigned Thursday, saying he did not want to harm his party. However, he said his "informal" comments had been taken out of context.

This incident recalls the furore in Malta a few months ago when the chairman of the Employment and Training Corporation, which falls under the Education Ministry, kept his place in spite of passing provoking comments on Facebook. ETC CEO Philip Rizzo had written the following about a senor colleague: “This is the only ETC Head of Division with the three Bs… Brains, Boobs and Balls!!!!... she’s a very capable lady.”

Mr Rizzo later apologised, but did not resign.