English Version - United Nations Development Programme Romania

eveals that neither an acceptable standard of living (food, shelter, drinking water), nor access to
health services, are ensured. The standard of living, assessed in terms of GDP per capita, affects the
main indicators referring to the state of public health and that of the medical personnel available to
the population.
The results of the estimate regarding the health burden show that a lot of potential life years are
lost, and their number is increasing significantly if we also consider the consecutive appearance of
illnesses.
To resolve the current critical situation, a new approach at the national level is needed. This fact
requires the creation of a strategy with precise aims, in which health must be perceived in a new light, as
it is a significant factor for almost every sector of society, not only for "the health sector".
2.2 Education
Education and the enhancement of human capital represent a major dimension, and at the same
time a solid support in the process of placing Romania on the path towards sustainable development.
Investing in education and continuous professional training of human resources, together with health and
research, is a central condition for overcoming the economic and social decline of the country. In the
long term, it will prove to be the most beneficial investment, as man's intellectual and creativeparticipative
potential is virtually unlimited.
For various reasons, a phenomenon which can be described as decapitalisation of human capital
occurred during the transitional period, although transition itself is a shock learning experience.
The years 1994 and 1995 practically marked the beginning of a global reform of secondary and
university education. The reform was aimed at making the Romanian educational system, compatible
with those of the developed countries in terms of organisation and performance; modernising the
structures, content, and techniques of the education process; improving admittance procedures,
evaluation, certification and recognition of studies; increasing institutional capability.
The Education Law (no 84/1995) declared education a national priority.
Educational reform set several targets for 1998 with a view to promoting more fundamental
changes:
1. Curricular reform and harmonisation with the established European standards;
2. Transformation of education from a predominantly reproductive system to one centred around
problem solving;
3. Creation of a new network between schools, high schools, and universities on the one hand, and the
economic, administrative, and cultural environment on the other;
4. Improvement of infrastructure and introduction of electronic communications systems;
5. Reform of school and academic management by de-centralising and granting institutional autonomy;
6. Transfer to advanced forms of international co-operation.
Actually, due mainly to the lack of resources, which in turn is caused by the austerity of the
national budget, education and professional training continue to be affected by serious problems, with
long term negative consequences which also threaten the projects of sustainable development.
The average schooling period in years - according to the 1992 census - was 8.3 years for the whole
population and 7.7 years for women.
The "school life expectancy" in Romania was approximately 10 years in the period 1993-1997, whilst
in E.U. countries this was between 13-15 years, and in some countries it approached 16 years.
The degree of literacy of the Romanian adult population, whilst oscillating between 96-97% in 1996-
1997, is also lower than in the E.U. countries, where it is 98-99%.
The percentage of 7 to 14 year olds not included in compulsory (primary and secondary)
education in 1997 was 5%, less than in 1991, when it was 9.5%, but this is still an unsatisfactory
value.
The gross rate of enrolment in education is variable, depending on the type of educational
institution and also varying over any one school year.
The motivation for attending higher level secondary education is decreasing, from 90.7% in 1990, to
68.6% in 1997, while the average rate of enrolment at all education levels has remained relatively
constant (62.9% in 1997, compared to 62.4% in 1990).
Demand for places in university education is growing: whereas in 1990 the gross rate of enrolment in
higher education of 10.6% was amongst the lowest in Europe, in 1997 it increased to almost 23%,
remaining, nevertheless, below that of developed countries (30-40% or more).
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