What is Numeracy in Romania: 16% of students do not understand mathematical information.
The Association for Values in Education (AVE Romania) and Brio®, with the support of Apa Nova Bucharest, announce the results of the first National Report on Numerical Literacy in Romania. According to the report, which analyzed the school population across all levels of education — primary, middle, and high school — numerical illiteracy affects more than one third (36%) of students, with nearly 16% experiencing significant difficulties.
“The Mathematical Literacy Test assesses the ability to reason and apply mathematics in real-life situations. The terms ‘numerical literacy’ and ‘numeracy’ are widely used in the scientific literature to describe essential numerical competencies. Our goal with this test was to measure not only whether a student is functionally numerate, but also the degree of their competency, allowing for a detailed assessment across a broad spectrum, from low to advanced levels. In the absence of a clear standard for the minimum acceptable level of numeracy, extensive data collection was necessary to empirically define competency thresholds and ensure a rigorous evaluation. The process led to the establishment of clear thresholds for identifying both severe numerical difficulties and superior performance, enabling the test to be used for initial screening and progress monitoring over time,” says Prof. Dr. Dragoș Iliescu, Chief Scientist & Founder of Brio.