Rural-Urban Disparities in Romanian Pre-University Education

Abstract

In recent decades, disparities between urban and rural areas in Romanian education have become more pronounced, against a backdrop of growing development gaps between these areas and the migration and aging of the rural population. These development gaps are evident not only in school results, but also in access to resources, the quality of teaching staff and school infrastructure. Rural schools face a shortage of specialized staff and the phenomenon of teacher "commuting," which affects the continuity and quality of teaching. Teachers' salaries are generally low, and in rural areas there are insufficient financial incentives to compensate for the difficult living conditions. Rural schools often have poor infrastructure, a lack of modern teaching materials, laboratories, and access to technology. Teaching in these conditions is challenging and can be discouraging for teachers. Many rural students come from poor families, which adds pressure on teachers, who have to manage not only educational issues but also the social and health problems of their students. In this context, this paper provides a comparative analysis of the disparities between rural and urban education in Romania, based on statistical data, which may be useful for informing decisions in this area and reducing risks. JEL: I21, I25