Debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the School Dropout Report

  • 06/05/2025
  • Development and Cooperation in Romania
  • admin

    • Debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the School Dropout Report

    Romania has the highest early school leaving rate in the EU, with over 15%. School dropout remains a major challenge for the education system, particularly affecting vocational and technical education (VET). While only 6 out of 1,000 students from academic (theoretical) high schools drop out, the number is five times higher in technological high schools and vocational schools, where 30 out of 1,000 students leave school early.

    Launch and debate of the school dropout study

    In this context, we were pleased to accept the invitation from the Education Committee of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies to launch and debate our recent analysis report on school dropout in vocational and technical education. The study was conducted by the HEKS/EPER Foundation Romania together with the Romanian Centre for European Policies (CRPE). We engaged in a constructive dialogue with over 25 representatives from the Romanian Parliament, the Ministry of Education, school principals, teachers, NGOs, and school counselors from across the country to reflect on the study’s findings, policy recommendations, and potential solutions in this area.

    Solutions to address school dropout

    We spent over three intensive hours discussing a wide range of topics — from the current status of programs aimed at tackling school dropout (we were glad to hear that the mid-term evaluation of the National Program for Reducing School Dropout – PNRAS – shows it is delivering results and should therefore be continued), to the need for increasing per-student funding in vocational and technical education (VET), and to measures for improving the quality and appeal of dual technical schools, with a focus on visibility and hands-on training. We also discussed the urgent need for career counseling and guidance, as well as European best practices such as internship centers or second-chance schools, where lower secondary students at risk of dropping out — or even adults who have already left school — can explore various professions through practical experience, helping them reintegrate into the education system or choose a suitable career path.

    Together with our colleagues from CRPE and our local partners involved in the projects “Inclusion of Young Adults from Vulnerable Backgrounds in the Romanian Labor Market” and “From Education to Decent Work – Sibiu County” — including Open Fields Foundation, Filantropia Ortodoxă Sibiu, Filantropia Ortodoxă Alba Iulia, and the Diakonia Christian Foundation Covasna — we remain committed to staying close to these issues and contributing to the development of evidence-based public policies in education and vocational training.