> Episode 4 of the mini-documentary "Romania Unfolds" - a project initiated and supported by Veolia Romania - explores innovative educational models, such as those implemented by the "Bucovina" Forestry College and the "Anghel Saligny" Technical College. These models demonstrate how practical education can support young people's integration into the labor market, contributing to a sustainable education system.
> The "Romania Unfolds" platform highlights best practices in education that promote inclusion and excellence, showing how access to quality education is achievable through sustainable solutions tailored to local realities.
The "Romania Unfolds" platform, a project by Veolia Romania, launches the fourth episode of the first sustainability-themed documentary mini-series in Romania - a project designed to inspire and inform, this time focusing on the importance of quality education. Dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, this episode explores educational models that facilitate access to inclusive and equitable education, tailored to the current realities of the labor market.
In Romania, where the school dropout rate reaches 15.6% and PISA test performance falls below the European average, there is an urgent need for solutions to address the challenges in education. In this context, "Romania Unfolds" promotes a series of best practices that can significantly contribute to the sustainable development of the educational system.
Episode 4 showcases inspirational stories in the field of education, demonstrating that through dedication, we can positively shape the future of our children. A prime example is "Bucovina" Forestry College, which focuses on offering academic excellence and practical training in forestry to more than 1,100 students. It is also the first college in Romania to register a girls' team in the European Forestry Skills Contest - a significant step towards ensuring equal opportunities. In Romania, only 8.4% of the technical education students benefit from workplace-based training, far below the European average of 60.1%. The "Bucovina" Forestry College has successfully developed personalized schooling programs to support the integration and growth of young people from various social backgrounds.
This edition also highlights the initiative of the Association for Values in Education (AVE) and the Brio educational platform to combat functional illiteracy. In Romania, 46.6% of 15-year-old students struggle significantly with mathematics, and 40.8% face difficulties with reading and understanding texts, compared to the European average of approximately 22%. In response, AVE and Brio developed the first National Mathematics Literacy Test, providing teachers with a free tool to assess and improve students' mathematical skills.
The educational program at "Anghel Saligny" Technical College, developed in partnership with Apa Nova - part of Veolia Romania - is another success story. Here, students gain both theoretical and practical knowledge in new technologies for installations, with guaranteed job opportunities based on their performance. According to data, nearly 60% of young people who complete an apprenticeship continue working with their employer, compared to the European average of 39%. Since 2018, 191 students have taken part in the dual education program, of whom 66 have graduated, and 30 are already employed by Apa Nova.
"Currently, Veolia Romania runs projects that span the entire educational spectrum, from middle school and high school to the university level. Through our partnership with the Association for Values in Education (AVE), we contribute to the development of leadership in schools, empowering principals to become agents of change in their communities. At the same time, we support dual learning by collaborating with the Anghel Saligny Technical College and promote excellence in higher education through partnerships with various universities. We believe that practical, market-oriented education is key to shaping professionals capable of meeting the challenges of the future." – Irina Munteanu, advocate for quality education on behalf of Veolia Romania.
"Romania Unfolds" aims to support examples of local sustainability and directly contribute to enhancing educational value. The platform's mission - to showcase how communities become catalysts for sustainability efforts - is backed by Veolia Romania, a champion of ecological transformation committed to developing solutions tailored to today's challenges. This way, "Romania Unfolds" becomes more than a documentary, it becomes a true inspiration, proving that education can become a driving force for social progress in Romania.
ABOUT VEOLIA
Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 220.000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2023, the Veolia group provided 113 million inhabitants with drinking water and 103 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and recovered 63 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 45.3 billion euros in 2023.