At a time when economic resilience, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial thinking are more essential than ever, Romania is preparing to drastically reduce the presence of Economics and Entrepreneurship in its high school curriculum. In the new proposed national framework for secondary education, Entrepreneurial Education is set to be merged with Economics into a single, diluted course — effectively marginalizing both subjects. This decision is not just ill-timed; it is fundamentally misaligned with global educational priorities.
Around the world, governments are recognizing the urgency of preparing youth for complex economic realities: inflation, digital economies, sustainability, labor market transformations, and the growing importance of financial independence. The European Union has classified entrepreneurship and economic competence among the eight key competences for lifelong learning. OECD reports have long emphasized that economic literacy is critical to understanding modern societies and making informed decisions as workers, consumers, and citizens. Yet Romania, a member of the EU since 2007, appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
An Inexplicable Step Backward
In the current proposals for high school curriculum reform, Economics, a subject traditionally taught in Grade 11 or 12, may be reduced to a single semester or absorbed into a hybrid “socio-economic education” course — one that lacks the structure, depth, or time allocation to properly teach either economics or entrepreneurship. For many students, especially those outside of theoretical academic tracks, this may be the only exposure they get to financial and economic concepts before entering adulthood.
Romania’s education policymakers argue that this restructuring will “streamline” the curriculum. In reality, it strips young people of one of the few opportunities to gain practical, life-relevant knowledge in a public education system still largely centered on rote learning and outdated content.
The decision has sparked growing concern among teachers, education experts, and civic organizations in the country. “This is not reform; it’s erasure,” said one high school economics teacher. “We’re training students for yesterday’s world, while today’s challenges demand skills in economic thinking, digital entrepreneurship, and financial decision-making.”
The Real-world Costs of Educational Neglect
The consequences of such a move are not abstract. According to surveys by Junior Achievement Romania and the World Bank, a significant percentage of Romanian youth lack basic financial literacy. Many do not understand interest rates, taxes, budgeting, or the basics of entrepreneurship — areas that directly impact personal well-being, career choices, and civic engagement.
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Romania already faces major economic disparities, brain drain, and youth unemployment. Instead of addressing these systemic issues through targeted education, the current curriculum reform seems poised to deepen the disconnect between school and real life.
A Call to Align with European and Global Standards
In countries like Finland, Estonia, and Ireland, entrepreneurship education is being strengthened and introduced as early as middle school. The United Nations, World Economic Forum, and OECD continue to emphasize entrepreneurial competence as a pillar of future-ready education. For Romania to dismantle — rather than enhance — this domain is not just a local issue. It is a European anomaly.
As global crises from inflation to job automation to economic inequality deepen, education systems must equip students with tools to navigate uncertainty and complexity. Romania’s decision to marginalize economic and entrepreneurial education is a step in the wrong direction — and one that deserves urgent international attention.
If Romania truly aims to build a generation ready for the future, it cannot afford to neglect the fundamentals of how the world works. Economics is not optional. Neither is entrepreneurship. They are survival skills in the 21st century.
Legman Ioan David is a Professor of Economics and Entrepreneurship at Transilvania Economic College in Târgu Mureș, Romania.