Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites | 2026
Authors: Agape A.-M.; Iațu C.
DOI: 10.30892/gtg.64151-1702
Journal: Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites
Year: 2026
Publisher: Editura Universitatii din Oradea
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
Internal and international migration in Romania is a well-known fact with a significant influence on the overall society. Schools are also profoundly affected by migration, and especially by student migration. Annually, every school in Romania submits a school plan detailing the number of classes, the number of teachers, and other vacancies, which has a significant impact on the establishment's finances. When calculating this projection, the leading indicator considered by the school management is the number of births in the previous 3 to 5 years. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the school year, another primary marker is involved in establishing the final number of students: migration. This research shifts the focus to a specific, longitudinal examination of a rural school in the Dulcești commune, located in Neamț County. By analysing data spanning the last 30 years, the study offers a unique "school-study" of how educational communities survive and adapt on the periphery of major urban centres. By correlating birth statistics with student departures, the authors aim to identify long-term patterns in migration-driven enrollment shifts. This research is trying to see the impact of the polarising role of Roman municipality on the students’ number from the school of Dulcești commune. Due to its proximity, Roman acts as a powerful polarizing force, drawing students away from rural classrooms and toward urban opportunities. This "pull factor" creates a consistent gap between the number of children born in the commune and the number who actually occupy its desks. © 2026 by the authors.
school lifespan; school network; schooling plan; students’ migration