Fighting functional illiteracy included in Romania’s draft national defence strategy as precarious education and school leaving rates are included among security risks and vulnerabilities

Actions to prevent and reduce school leaving and functional illiteracy have been included among priorities for education in a new draft strategy covering Romanian national defence and security, which was presented by President Nicusor Dan on Wednesday. The draft strategy for the period of 2025-2030 also demands policies to support media literacy as a means to protect the population against disinformation and other threats.

The need to support education was also mentioned in previous 5-year defence strategies, but it is the first time when such a document calls explicitly for actions to fight functional illiteracy.

The topic drew national attention in the wake of elections in late 2024 and earlier this year, which saw major advances of far right and populist groups and politicians. Major inquiries are under way in relation to how a candidate previously credited with insignificant support managed to come on top in the first round of presidential elections late last year, a poll which was eventually cancelled following warnings of foreign meddling.
Functional illiteracy has also been intensively debated since the results of the international PISA 2022 tests showed high numbers of Romanian 15y olds who lack basic skills in maths, reading and science, as compared to other European countries.

The new draft strategy, as announced by the President, mentions „precarious education and school leaving rates”, as well as low figures of tertiary education attainment among the „risks and threats” which have a negative impact on the development of the country. The education system is also included among „systemic vulnerabilities”, as are low levels of „critical thinking” and media literacy.

The document calls for actions to prevent and lower school leaving and functional illiteracy rates. It also requests actions to develop media, digital and information skills among the general population as a means to protect the it against disinformation, propaganda and other forms of „informational and hybrid aggression”.