Round Table on Career Guidance

Round Table on Career Guidance

Yesterday, the 23rd of May 2024, we were delighted to meet for the first time in an extended format with over 40 representatives from the educational ecosystem and civil society in Romania, at the virtual round table “Career Guidance, an Essential Part of School Counseling. Public Policy Proposals from Covasna, Alba, and Sibiu Counties.” We were joined by directors, teachers, school counselors, county inspectorates, Educational Resource and Assistance Centers (CJRAE and CMBRAE), NGOs, business representatives, and, crucially, the Ministry of Education.

Over the past year, the Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE) has conducted analyses and public policy proposals in the field of school counseling and career guidance, based on the experience of implementing the projects “Inclusion of Young Adults from Vulnerable Backgrounds in the Labor Market in Romania” and “From Education to Decent Work in Sibiu County,” coordinated by the HEKS/EPER Romania Foundation.

Currently, the challenges are numerous, starting from the insufficient number of professionals in schools (even though the number of counselors in the system has recently increased by 50%), to their reduced capacity to address the multitude of psycho-pedagogical issues faced by young people, and the lack of validated methodologies, strategies, and tools for career guidance.

However, yesterday’s discussions and the information shared give us hope. The Ministry of Education is preparing projects and measures that will address many of these challenges. We particularly appreciate the increased focus on reducing disparities in access to counseling and school guidance services for students from rural and disadvantaged communities, as well as the establishment of a basic set of career counseling activities.

Additionally, participants discussed various technical aspects and best practices derived from their grassroots activities, leading to the shaping of new collaborations and projects.

This marked the initial step in establishing a much-needed community for schools and children, addressing a public policy area that has been largely overlooked until now.