October is a month when we remember about education and development. The World Teachers’ Day was on October 5, while October 17 marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. CIPE’s latest Feature Service article addresses both those subjects. Irina Alionte, first place winner of the 2009 CIPE International Youth Essay Competition in the category of “Educational Reform and Employment,” talks about the challenges that the educational system faces in Romania and how important reform is for the country’s future.
She says, “The results of international comparative studies and realities on the ground clearly show that the current educational system in Romania is not capable of providing graduates with the necessary skills to succeed on the labor market and to sustain a prosperous and competitive country. Consequently, urgent reforms are needed to tackle the problems encountered both in Romania’s educational system and labor market.”
Article at a Glance
- Despite increases in university enrollment and graduation rates, the quality of education in Romania remains relatively low. Many private universities created after 1989 are “diploma-factories” that do not provide students with necessary knowledge and skills.
- Faced with a dearth of opportunities at home, many young Romanians choose to emigrate in search of work abroad.
- To encourage young people to stay in Romania and invest their skills, the Romanian Government must reform its educational system to better address the professional expectations of young people and the needs of the domestic job market.
Published Date: October 20, 2009