Education System in Romania: Where To?

The Romanian education system is considered outdated and poorly adapted to current needs, significantly affecting students. We’re not talking here about the elites, those who bring gold medals from the International Olympiads, but the average students who want to make it through. How is the situation going to change?

According to a recent Eurostat study, Romania had the highest share (15%) of 18 to 24 who were not enrolled in college or other training in the EU in 2022.

The European Bureau of Statistics shows that in 2021, 15% of young Romanians aged between 18 and 24 have chosen not to attend college or other training. The percentage is the highest of all member states, but there is a decrease compared to 2010, when it was 19%.

Romania is followed by Spain and Italy, with 13%, and Bulgaria and Hungary (12% ). Croatia (2%), Slovenia, Greece, and Ireland are at the other end of the spectrum (3% each). On the other hand, Spain significantly reduced the percentage from 28% in 2010.

The European Union’s average has fallen from 13% in 2011 to 10% in 2021, with the Union pledging to reduce the percentage to 9% by 2030. Sixteen member countries had already met this goal by last year. Belgium, Czech Republic, Ireland, Greece, France, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden are among them. Portugal, for example, has reduced its dropout rate from 28% to 5% in 11 years.

Although the Romanian Minister of Education Sorin Cimpeanu is taking measures to improve the education system, Romania has 42% functionally illiterate students. Romanian education is not the best globally, but there is so much potential, and this is why the authorities are trying to change the current status.

Will the idea of eliminating the school marks, as the minister intends, work? Or eliminating the mid-year exams? Or the idea of having more optional classes? Nobody knows, but one thing is sure: only fools expect other results by doing the same things all over again.

Suppose the authorities became more involved in the education of young people in Romania and implemented projects to modernize the educational system. In that case, Romania could enhance its potential to produce highly educated students.

It’s not only about education; it’s about the future of an entire nation. Also, it’s about ending the failure of the education system and changing the country’s perspective.