The state of the Romanian education system is characterized by the existence of systemic problems, which have not received an adequate response in the recent decades. These include poor school infrastructure, high school dropout rates (according to the Social Monitor conducted by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the dropout rate in 2019 was 15.3%), poor results of Romanian students in national and international assessments (such as PISA testing) and the functional illiteracy rate (the PISA 2018 results also indicate a functional illiteracy rate of 40%).
The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent online teaching activities have exacerbated these problems and brought additional challenges to an education system that was not prepared for such a teaching and learning paradigm shift, given that, according to Eurostat, only 56% of young people between the ages of 16 and 24 have basic digital skills, necessary in the context of carrying out online activities. Beyond the immediate impact on the educational process, this reality places Romania on the last place in the European Union in terms of human capital development in the DESI 2020 index (Digital Economy and Society Index).
In this context, Romania must make every effort to maximize funding opportunities through the NRRP and the 2021-2027 operational programs in order to modernize and improve the performance of the Romanian education system, while using in an optimal manner the national budget allocations.
In AmCham’s view, the reform and investment priorities in the education system are:
1. Investments in the education infrastructure
2. Investments in the teachers’ training
3. Investments in the digitalization of the education system
4. Interventions in education tailored to the specific needs of local communities
5. Professionalization of the schools’ management
6. Investments in the early education system.
We salute the Government’s decision to commit to these priorities, also included in the “România Educată” report, as part of the effort to make the education reform a national priority.
