A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND DIGITAL COMPETENCIES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE (CEE)

This article investigates the post‑2020 evolution of education quality and digital competencies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the wake of the abrupt shift to online and hybrid learning during the COVID‑19 pandemic. We triangulate comparative evidence from PISA 2022, the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)/Digital Decade monitoring, the EU Digital Education Action Plan (2021–2027), and the DigComp/DigCompEdu frameworks to map cross‑country disparities in infrastructure, teachers' digital readiness, and institutional capacity. Findings indicate partial convergence across several indicators—particularly connectivity and digital public services—yet reveal persistent gaps in basic digital skills, pedagogical integration of technology, and equitable access, with the southeastern EU subregion lagging behind. Urban–rural divides, uneven curriculum implementation, and insufficient large‑scale teacher upskilling remain binding constraints. Methodologically, we offer a structured regional snapshot, then contrast Romania's trajectory with EU averages, and synthesize lessons from the United States and China to highlight similarities (connectivity versus capability paradox) and differences (scale, governance, and industrial digitalization). Policy analysis emphasizes the need for people‑centric investments that complement infrastructure: standardized DigComp‑aligned assessments, micro‑credentials for students and adults, robust teacher training pipelines, and outcome‑based funding tied to actual technology use in schools, firms, and public services. We argue that narrowing foundational skill deficits (especially among youth, rural communities, and older adults) is a precondition for translating connectivity into sustained improvements in learning outcomes and productivity. The paper concludes with a practical roadmap that prioritizes equity‑oriented delivery, sector‑linked upskilling, and consolidated governance to accelerate convergence within CEE and position the region for the EU's 2030 Digital Decade targets.