| ROMANIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH REFORM (2.08.07) |
| (2007-08-02) |
| Last updated: 2007-08-03 15:55 EET |
After the anti-communist revolution of 1989, the Romanian education system has been the target of numerous changes, introduced on an almost yearly basis. Instead of improving the situation, these changes have led to the bewilderment of the teaching staff, students and parents alike. The school curriculum has seen repeated changes, and so has the examination system. Teachers had to choose from a huge variety of alternative textbooks, some of lower quality, which were introduced. Low salaries have also led teachers to move to more profitable sectors, leaving the education system to temporary or supply teachers. All of these shortcomings have been revealed in a survey conducted by a specialist committee, which pointed to the profound crisis currently facing the Romanian education system.
The aforementioned committee revealed the inefficiency, irrelevance, and the lack in equity in the present education system, which falls well short of meeting the minimal requirements of a European society and economy. The results obtained by Romanian students appear to be the weakest in the whole of the European Union. In Romania’s rural areas, where only a quarter of children go to high school, performance is even lower than in the cities. The awards obtained by Romanian students in international Olympiads are irrelevant, as these competitions are no replacement for social competition. So there is the risk that the future graduates, who at the moment cannot benefit from a top-notch education, may not be able to serve a performing economy. All in all, the Romanian education system is in sore need of profound reforms, based on firm, steady regulation.
The present board of the ministry, along with the leaders of the four union federations, has agreed on major changes to the structure of pre-university education. Pre-school education will become compulsory, with kindergarten lasting from the ages of 3 and 6. Every child will have to attend a one-year preparatory class before going to secondary school for 9 years. They can then choose to go to university, which will last three years. The changes also provide for the elimination of national exams, with high school entrance to be made on the basis of the results obtained in the tests taken during the 7th, 8th and 9th grades. Due to the high demand, some high schools will be allowed to stage entrance examinations. These changes will come into force beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, though only if they are passed by Parliament. The changes will be submitted to Parliament in early September.
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2025-04-03
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