Study: Romania, below the European average level of knowledge

Romania lies in the 2011-2014 period below the European average level of knowledge as regards reading, mathematics and science acquired by young people up to 15 years of age, according to data by the Education and Training Monitor 2015, launched on Tuesday by the European Commission's Representation in Romania. So, data say that pupils of this category of age have an inferior level at reading - 37.3pct as compared to the EU countries -17.8pct, as well as at mathematics - 40.8pct, against 22.1pct in UE or sciences - 37.3pct, compared to the EU average of 16.6pct. Likewise, the early school dropout rate in the education and vocational systems (age 18-24 years) is higher to the EU average in 2014, of 18.1pct as compared to 11.1pct. On this occasion, Education Minister Adrian Curaj emphasized the necessity for the Education Monitor 2015 to be issued, showing that gaps should be cut, and one of the solutions would be innovation - research. "We are debating between emotions and data. When we develop strategies, we are in the confrontation of 'what do the data say, those policies based on reality, but also on what our emotions say,' because from the inside we know there is a great natural gift, a human resource we should refine so we can act in their favour. (...) I believe in an exceptional natural gift. (...) The idea to reduce the gaps is extraordinary, it comes from the determination of a step-by-step action. I come from innovation - research and I wish that innovation helped me do that jump. I am certain that we have enough capacity, yet for this we should have a major availability, the availability to experiment," the Education Minister said. According to Ligia Deca, state adviser with the Presidential Administration, Romania's chance is to support education and collaboration among the factors in charge. Michael Teutsch, the country unit head of the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission, underlined that the launching of the Education Monitor 2015 places in the spotlight the education situation of Romania through the perspective of monitoring as an interesting process and tries to emphasize the "mutual learning" concept among the EU member states. The Education and Training Monitor 2015 also tackles, besides statistics, aspects linked to recommendations specific to each country for the 2015 European half-year in education, strong points and challenges.