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EU education spending and Romanian academic crisis

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2026-09-11 04:01 UTC → 2026-09-11 17:19 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Eurostat data indicates that public education spending across the European Union averaged 4.7% of GDP in 2023, totaling 806 billion euros. This represents a decline from the 4.96% recorded in 2014. Spending levels vary significantly by member state; Sweden allocates the highest proportion of its GDP to education at 6.8%, while Romania and Greece report the lowest levels, at approximately 2.97% and 3.33% respectively. Educational attainment remains a critical challenge. Romania has recorded the highest early school leaving and training rate in the EU at 15.5%, significantly exceeding the EU average of 9.1% for the 18–24 age group and the 2030 target of 9%. In Romania, public perception of the education system is declining, with 46.7% of respondents believing public education has deteriorated over the last four years. A 2026 audit from the Romanian Court of Accounts noted that curricular policies are updated without systematic consultation with employers, contributing to a disconnect from labor market requirements. Recent PISA test results from the OECD highlight a deepening crisis. While 2025 data showed approximately half of Romanian 15-year-old students failing to reach minimum competency, subsequent results indicate a significant decline in performance. Approximately half of students now fall into the category of ‘functional illiteracy,’ struggling with basic arithmetic and text comprehension. Average scores for science (425), reading (413), and mathematics (419) have dropped below OECD averages. A severe disparity exists between urban and rural students, with rural performance gaps reaching up to 109 points in mathematics. ~~Furthermore, Eurostat confirms Romania maintains~~ Following the ~~highest student-to-teacher ratio in~~ 2025 PISA results, interim Education Minister Mihai Dimian described the ~~EU for primary education, averaging 18.2~~ performance as “weak,” noting that approximately 52% of students ~~per teacher. Following these results, public debate has intensified.~~ failed to reach minimum competency in mathematics. Dimian highlighted a discrepancy between national exam grades and PISA scores, suggesting students struggle to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios.

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