site.btaParliament Adopts Two Youth Reports, Spanning 2020 -2022

The annual youth report for 2020 was approved with 99 votes in favor, 24 against, and 12 abstentions. The youth report for the period 2021–2022 was adopted with 101 votes in favor, 23 against, and 12 abstentions.

According to the data in the 2020 report, the share of young people who dropped out of school prematurely that year was 12.8%. The main reasons are economic difficulties, early marriages, and others. About one-third of young people hold a professional qualification certificate, with the highest share among those with higher education (59%), the document notes. Non-formal education remains weakly represented, despite its recognized importance.

The report also states that 38% of all convicted persons in 2020 were young people aged 14 to 29, which is considered an alarming indicator, especially for the so-called NEET groups (young people not in education, employment, or training). The report stresses the need for improved inter-institutional coordination.

The 2021–2022 youth report reflects the new priorities of the National Youth Strategy (2021–2030), according to the Council of Ministers. Among the key findings are that formal education receives a positive evaluation from 62% of young people. A total of 75% of respondents see value in lifelong learning, but 32% believe that employers do not recognize knowledge acquired through non-formal education. Young people in smaller settlements feel a lack of opportunities for education and career development—fewer than 40% rate the educational environment as good, and under 30% see prospects for professional growth in their hometowns, the report notes.

The COVID-19 pandemic is cited as a factor that changed educational practices and led to a rise in mental health difficulties. Among the findings is also low physical activity, only 56% of young people exercise regularly. Violence is common: 61% of young people have witnessed psychological violence, 52% physical violence, and 22% sexual violence.

Youth organizations suffer from financial instability, which threatens the sustainability of the youth sector, the report concludes. It highlights the need to improve access to information, the importance of digital channels, and the risk posed by unverified information.