World Bank Supports Romania’s Reform Processes in the Education Sector

Bucharest, June 28, 2007 - An Education Policy Note prepared by specialists from the World Bank was presented in a workshop jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, Research and Youth and the World Bank office in Bucharest. During the workshop issues related to education decentralization and funding formula were also discussed.

Opening remarks were presented by Ms. Zvetlana Preoteasa, Secretary of State, and Mr. Benoit Blarel, World Bank Country Manager for Romania. Participants in the workshop included representatives of the Ministry of Education, Research and Youth, other ministries and agencies, as well as representatives of think tanks and professional associations.

The note underlines the important sectoral reforms already implemented in Romania. To meet the challenges of Romania’s convergence into the EU and the corresponding demands on its workforce, further reforms would be needed. These reforms would aim at improving education outcomes. Demand for skilled manpower will increase with the rising share of high-value-added production and services in the economy. These changes will result in the need for a more competitive labor force with new problem-solving competencies and cognitive skills.

The note shows that student performance can be improved to reach EU and OECD standards. Enrollments in secondary and tertiary education would need to increase to foster a competitive workforce. Gaps persist between students in rural and urban schools, as well as between majority students and disadvantaged minority groups.

These differences in performance may be attributable to inequitable and inefficient distribution of resources leading to great variance in the quality of schooling provided. The note also indicates that improved human resources management in the education system, through strategic plans and performance incentives   can also contribute significantly to improving education outcomes.

Additional efforts are needed to increase education quality, access, relevance, efficiency, and equity.  Without interventions, the low enrollment rate in secondary education, combined with ongoing demographic changes, could lead to a significant loss of students and eventually to a substantial excess-capacity of teachers. Furthermore, Romania’s competitiveness, particularly in the context of EU integration, would need to be supported by curricula that meet the emerging needs of employers, as well as the higher rate of participation in tertiary education and life long learning, on the one hand, and early education on the other. 

Traditional human resources policies - which do not link compensation to performance and accountability - have made the education system unattractive to talented young   graduates, which then lowers the quality of entrants into the profession. 

The Ministry of Education, Research and Youth expressed interest in advancing with decentralization plans to strengthen education quality and its relevance to the needs of the economy. There is also strong commitment to increase the budget for education in order to address longstanding weaknesses, as soon as appropriate efficiency and accountability measures are in place. Plans to increase teachers’ pay should be matched by corresponding enhancements in accountability and plans for professional development.

To meet these challenges, the Policy note recommends a sectoral strategy centered around four themes: (i)   increasing education efficiency and equity in the context of decentralization by introducing per capita formula financing and optimizing the school network; (ii) increasing education quality primarily through better management of human resources within the education system; (iii) creating more opportunities for skills renewal and life long learning to the Romanian workforce; and (iv) increasing effectiveness by developing a coherent, strategic plan for reforming the sector.

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For more information on the World Bank’s work in Romania, please visit:

http://www.worldbank.org.ro