World Bank, Romania sign education agreement

World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Laura Tuck and Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici signed on Friday a loan agreement worth 200 million euros for the Romania Secondary Education Project - ROSE.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

ROSE is the biggest educational project supported by the World Bank in Europe and Central Asia; its goal is to increase the chances of students to complete the tertiary education cycle. It will be implemented over the next seven years by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research. The WB Board approved ROSE on March 16.
 
Tuck declared herself honoured by signing the agreement on behalf of WB and appreciated the event as a proof of Romania's performances and of the excellent dialogue between the country's government and the World Bank; she also underlined the importance of better educated and qualified workforce to support the economic growth.

Teodorovici pointed out that poverty and social exclusion were still widespread in Romania, and the government insists on education, healthcare, social services and employment; he said the ROSE project was a part of the solution of such problems.

The rate of enlistment in secondary education in Romania is high, but the transition to the tertiary system is affected by early leaving and by weak performances at the baccalaureate examination. ROSE aims at increasing the percentage of tertiary graduation, focusing on the schools and groups of students with the highest risks of failure.

Funds under this project will be available as early as the 2015-2016 school year. The World Bank has also assisted Romania within regional programmes for higher education, and since 2013 it supported the drafting of strategies...