BUCHAREST, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Romanian government on Wednesday approved a national program aimed at significantly reducing dropout rates across the country's higher education institutions.
The initiative includes a comprehensive set of support measures such as remedial courses, academic and psychological counseling, and career guidance, with a particular focus on students at risk of leaving university, said the government on its website.
The program also encourages collaboration with high schools, especially those in rural areas, to enhance student preparedness and ease the transition to university life.
Higher education institutions will be required to develop tailored action plans based on the specific risks and challenges faced by their student populations.
In addition, the program promotes re-enrolment opportunities, support for students who have interrupted their studies, and greater engagement in both academic and extracurricular activities.
Funding will be provided by the Ministry of Education and Research, and will be supplemented by European funds and institutional partnerships.
According to a 2022 study conducted by a public agency under the Ministry of Education and Research, nearly half of the students who enrolled in undergraduate programs in 2015 had not completed their studies by 2021, with 43.8 percent dropping out during their first year.
