Meetings of Local Working Groups within the Projects “Inclusion of Disadvantaged Youth in the Labor Market in Romania” and “From Education to Decent Work, Sibiu County”

Meetings of Local Working Groups within the Projects “Inclusion of Disadvantaged Youth in the Labor Market in Romania” and “From Education to Decent Work, Sibiu County”

On April 15, 2025, in Covasna, and between May 14–15, 2025, in Sibiu and Alba Iulia, periodic meetings of the local working groups were held within the framework of the projects Inclusion of Disadvantaged Youth in the Labor Market in Romania and From Education to Decent Work, Sibiu County. Over 50 representatives from partner vocational schools, school inspectorates, and companies involved in the projects took part in these events.

The Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE), a partner of the HEKS/EPER Foundation Romania, presented its most recent advocacy efforts from the past months. These included:

• An open letter on the national curriculum frameworks, signed by 20 non-governmental organizations;
• A substantial contribution to the public consultation launched by the Ministry of Education regarding the per-student funding standard in vocational and technical education (VET), advocating for an increase to ensure high-quality training and effective internships;
• Participation in an event organized on April 30, 2025, by the Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. During the event, CRPE presented a report on school dropout in VET and discussed the projects’ approach and the impact of career counseling and guidance.

The meetings also featured examples of good practices from Europe regarding the promotion of VET, as well as challenges faced in Romania, particularly the negative perceptions still associated with this type of education.

A highly discussed topic was the need to introduce career counseling starting from primary school, through educational and practical activities that help children discover different professions. Participants emphasized the importance of continuing vocational guidance during secondary and vocational education, to support informed educational choices for students.

Among the good practice examples highlighted was inviting successful VET graduates to speak with middle school students, as a way to counter prejudice and increase the attractiveness of vocational education paths.

The crucial role of parental involvement and the collaboration between public institutions — such as County School Inspectorates (ISJ), County Employment Agencies (AJOFM), and Chambers of Commerce — was also underlined, as key to strengthening a functional, relevant, and effective vocational education system.

Another major topic was the school dropout rate in VET, which is significantly higher compared to theoretical education. Participants discussed potential measures for prevention and reduction, focusing on individualized student support, parental involvement, and improving the relevance of vocational training.

As always, these meetings provided an important opportunity to gather practical insights and recommendations from stakeholders directly involved in VET. These contributions will be incorporated into position papers developed by CRPE and submitted to the Ministry of Education to support the development of effective educational policies.

Some of the recommendations already addressed to the Ministry include:

• Establishing a centralized system to collect individual-level data on students dropping out, along with mechanisms to ensure most VET schools report dropouts in a timely manner;
• Implementing early warning systems in schools to detect students at risk of dropping out, and identifying the key contributing factors;
• Allocating increased resources for school counseling and career guidance for VET students, to expand both the reach and the intensity of support;
• Creating multidisciplinary teams to support students and implement catch-up programs for those falling behind;
• Continuous professional development for VET teachers and company trainers, acknowledging that reducing dropout rates in the workplace is just as crucial as addressing dropout within the school system.