First National Report on Numerical Literacy: Over a third of students are affected by numerical illiteracy
First National Report on Numerical Literacy: Over a third of students are affected by numerical illiteracy
Asociația pentru Valori în Educație (AVE România) and Brio®, with the support of Apa Nova București, announce the results of the first National Report on Numerical Literacy in Romania. According to the report, which analyzed the school population across all educational levels—primary, middle, and high school—numerical illiteracy affects more than a third (36%) of students, with nearly 16% experiencing significant difficulties.
Numerical literacy refers to the ability to understand, interpret, and use mathematical information in various aspects of daily, professional, and social life. In everyday activities, this includes, among other things, the ability to calculate bank interest rates, interpret utility tariffs, compare commercial offers, or estimate costs for different products and services.
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 scientific literature to describe essential numerical competencies. Through this test, we aimed to measure not only whether a student is functionally numerate but also the level of their competence, allowing for a detailed assessment across a broad spectrum, from low to advanced levels. In the absence of a clear standard defining the minimum acceptable level of numeracy, extensive data collection was necessary to empirically establish competency thresholds and ensure a rigorous evaluation. This process led to the definition of clear benchmarks for identifying both severe numerical difficulties and high performance, enabling the test to be used for initial screening and progress monitoring over time,” said Prof. Dr. Dragoș Iliescu, Chief Scientist & Founder of Brio®.
The report outlines five levels of functionality for each grade: A (excellent), B (good), C (limited), D (very limited), and E (high risk), where categories D and E represent functional numerical illiteracy, while categories A, B, and C indicate numerical functionality.
Numerical illiteracy steadily increases from an average of 25% in primary school to 36% in middle school and 46% in high school. Boys generally demonstrate a higher level of numerical functionality compared to girls, with this difference remaining consistent across all educational cycles.
Significant differences in functional numerical illiteracy were observed based on students’ backgrounds. Students from rural areas exhibit the highest levels of numerical illiteracy, at 58.16%, while those from large urban areas record the lowest levels, at 22.23%. In primary school, numerical illiteracy is already very high in rural areas (42.86%) compared to large urban areas (15.45%). These disparities persist and become more pronounced as students progress through middle and high school.
“This first edition of the National Report on Students’ Numerical Literacy in Romania shows us where we stand. For AVE, measuring students’ progress is very important, which is why we will continue to produce such reports in the coming years. We have a modern measurement tool, available online and free to all interested parties, allowing us to personalize educational approaches. In this way, we contribute to developing each student’s numerical skills, which are among the eight key competencies necessary for personal growth, lifelong learning, and professional integration. Through the School Transformation Program in Romania, we aim to support schools in developing students’ essential competencies, with mathematics playing a fundamental role in this process,” stated Andreea Nistor, Executive Director of AVE România.
The results also highlight a strong correlation between socio-economic status (SES) and the level of numerical functionality. Students from the highest socio-economic category (Q1) have the lowest rates of numerical illiteracy (D+E), while students from the lowest socio-economic category (Q4) show the highest level of numerical illiteracy, with significant differences between the extremes. In primary school, the differences are relatively smaller but become more pronounced in middle and high school, where students from Q4 are significantly more disadvantaged compared to those from Q1. For example, in high school, only 23.63% of students from Q1 fall into the functional numerical illiteracy category, compared to 69.76% from Q4.
“The involvement of companies in education is a key factor in shaping and preparing future generations of professionals. Apa Nova Bucharest – a Veolia company – takes on this role by supporting initiatives that contribute to the development of education and the integration of young people into the labor market. Through our collaboration with Asociația pentru Valori în Educație and BRIO, and by contributing to the development of practical tools such as the Mathematical Literacy Test, as well as through multiple partnerships with middle schools, high schools, and universities, we actively support projects that enhance the learning process and the development of essential skills. We strongly believe that the business environment can contribute to transforming Romania’s education system, bringing professionalism and innovation to the training of new generations,” said Irina Munteanu, an advocate for quality education from Apa Nova Bucharest, a company part of the Veolia Group.
The mathematical literacy test is available at the link: https://brio.ro/info/literatie-numerica and can be administered in the classroom by teachers, completed by students at home, or even used as a component in entrance exams or selection processes for employment.