OMV Petrom Foundation and World Vision Romania launch the largest early education project in Romania – “Start in education”. The project supports 60,000 children (3-6 years) and 10,000 parents. Beneficiaries are selected from 500 disadvantaged communities. The total value of the project is of more than 2.7 million euro.
Children from the vulnerable communities selected in the program will each receive a “Backpack with future” – a package of educational resources made with the help of education experts.
“Backpack with future” will help children learn, express their talents and understand the world, in order to be better prepared for entering school. The products in the schoolbag meet the developmental needs of preschool children: supplies, book and workbook, STEAM educational materials (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics), games for the development of motor skills and personal hygiene products. Parents will be able to find activity ideas and tips for using them on the YouTube channel dedicated to Start in Education.
Also within the project, 10,000 parents of preschool children will participate in the School of Parents program – parenting education workshops where they will receive valuable support and guidance from experts.
A preliminary analysis carried out among the beneficiaries of the “Start in education” project shows that, although most parents believe that going to kindergarten is important, one in five parents believe that their children can have a good educational path even without attending kindergarten. In addition, a third of the parents say that the main challenge they encounter in terms of attending kindergarten is the lack of money for expenses (clothes, meals, school bags). Regarding materials specific to kindergarten activities, 20% of children receive a coloring book or colored pencils once a year or not at all, and 25% of kindergarten children receive a new toy once a year at best per year, some of them not at all. Regarding the involvement of parents in activities with children, 36% of them rarely or only sometimes carry out activities such as coloring, reading stories, educational games or other specific activities.
“Start in education is a complex initiative that manages to reach the largest number of preschoolers ever involved in a project in Romania. The OMV Petrom Foundation and its partner World Vision Romania have the experience and ability to provide the project’s beneficiaries with resources and training for quality early education, which prepares children for school. We are sure that Backpack with future will start early learning experiences at home for the most vulnerable children and parents,” said Ana Maria Mihăescu, president, OMV Petrom Foundation.
“In addition to all the actions mentioned, the Start in education project aims to bring together at national level teachers, specialists, parents, local authorities, local companies, academic institutions and civil society to reinforce the message regarding the strategic importance of early education for children, in which parents are supported to become the child’s first educators who initiate early learning experiences at home and in the community, then in kindergarten they become educational partners. We are extremely grateful to have with us partners who understand how important early education is, such as the OMV Petrom Foundation. We are convinced that together, through this large project, we can really change the way early education is done in Romania”, added Mihaela Nabăr, executive director of World Vision Romania.
Romania is among the EU countries where the participation rate in early education has decreased compared to 2011. In addition, the enrollment rate between the age of 3 and the age of starting compulsory education is among the lowest in Europe, significantly lower than the average European, according to European Commission data.
According to World Vision Romania data, the situation of children of preschool age is extremely serious, especially in rural areas, where children of kindergarten age work in the household for an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes (they take care of animals and have other responsibilities at home). From the analyzes carried out by World Vision Romania, most preschool children in rural areas have access to educational materials only if they attend kindergarten or use those of their older siblings who go to school.
According to a report recently published by the OMV Petrom Foundation, 95% of teachers claim that there are developmental gaps between children who start kindergarten at the age of 3 and those who are enrolled later. In addition, educators claim in 100% percentage that the involvement of parents in the child’s development is essential.
However, the reality on the ground looks like this: only 54% of directors say that the percentage of children enrolled in kindergarten is over 90% in their locality. At the same time, only 68% of educators say that more than 90% of enrolled children attend kindergarten at least 4 times a week.