Educational System in Educational System in RomaniaRomania

Main CharacteristicsMain Characteristics

IntroductionIntroduction

Since the Since the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the , the Romanian educational system has been in a Romanian educational system has been in a continuous process of continuous process of reformation that has that has been both praised and criticised.been both praised and criticised.

Public pre-university education (pre-primary, Public pre-university education (pre-primary, primary, secondary and post-secondary non-primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education) is part of the local tertiary education) is part of the local decentralized public services and is subordinated decentralized public services and is subordinated to the Ministry of Education through the County to the Ministry of Education through the County School Inspectorates. School Inspectorates.

The County School Inspectorates ensure at the local The County School Inspectorates ensure at the local level observance of the legislation and evaluation level observance of the legislation and evaluation of the educational system and process as well as of the educational system and process as well as implementation of the educational policy implementation of the educational policy established by the Ministry of Education and established by the Ministry of Education and Research.Research.

According to the Law on Education adopted in 1995:According to the Law on Education adopted in 1995:

Each level has its own form of organization Each level has its own form of organization and is subject to different legislations. and is subject to different legislations.

Kindergarten is optional between the age of 3 Kindergarten is optional between the age of 3 and 6 years old. and 6 years old.

Schooling starts at age 7 ( sometimes 6) and is Schooling starts at age 7 ( sometimes 6) and is compulsory until 10compulsory until 10thth grade ( which usually grade ( which usually corresponds to the age of 17 or 16). corresponds to the age of 17 or 16).

Higher education is aligned onto European Higher education is aligned onto European Higher education areaHigher education area

The Romanian Educational System is divided along two main levelsThe Romanian Educational System is divided along two main levels

Pre- University Level is Pre- University Level is structured in 4 cycles:structured in 4 cycles:

1.1. Kindergarten composed of 3 or Kindergarten composed of 3 or 4 grades4 grades

2.2. Primary school comprises two Primary school comprises two 4-grade periods4-grade periods

- Elementary school (I-IV)- Elementary school (I-IV) - Gymnasium (V-VIII)- Gymnasium (V-VIII)3.3. High School- 4 or 5 grades High School- 4 or 5 grades

(grades IX to XII/XIII)(grades IX to XII/XIII)4.4. Vocational education, which can Vocational education, which can

continue or supplant High continue or supplant High School, prepares students for School, prepares students for careers that are based on careers that are based on practical activitiespractical activities

Higher educational is organized Higher educational is organized according to the principles of the according to the principles of the Bologna process, which aims at Bologna process, which aims at the construction of the European the construction of the European higher education area. It has the higher education area. It has the following 4 components:following 4 components:

1.1. Bachelor (licenta)- 3 years in Bachelor (licenta)- 3 years in most disciplines (as of 2005)most disciplines (as of 2005)

2.2. Master (masterat)- 2 years in Master (masterat)- 2 years in most disciplines (as of 2008)most disciplines (as of 2008)

3.3. Doctorate (doctorat)- at least 3 Doctorate (doctorat)- at least 3 yearsyears

4.4. Lifelong learning (formare Lifelong learning (formare continua), which includes continua), which includes postgraduate education postgraduate education occurring outside the occurring outside the Master/Doctorate frameworkMaster/Doctorate framework

StatisticsStatistics

In 2004 some 4.4 million of the population was In 2004 some 4.4 million of the population was enrolled in school. Out of these, 650,000 in enrolled in school. Out of these, 650,000 in kindergarten, 3.11 million (14% of population) kindergarten, 3.11 million (14% of population) in primary and secondary level, and 650,000 in primary and secondary level, and 650,000 (3% of population) in tertiary level (3% of population) in tertiary level (universities)(universities)

Primary educationPrimary education

Primary education (compulsory) – Primary education (compulsory) – organised for pupils aged 6(7)-10(11) and organised for pupils aged 6(7)-10(11) and including grades I to IVincluding grades I to IV. .

Private elementary education has a 0.5% Private elementary education has a 0.5% market share, according to the Romanian market share, according to the Romanian Ministry of EducationMinistry of Education

Transition from primary education to Transition from primary education to secondary education is only secondary education is only conditioned by the promotion of the conditioned by the promotion of the first four grades.first four grades.

Secondary education:Secondary education:

• lower secondary education namely the gimnaziu lower secondary education namely the gimnaziu education (compulsory) – organised for pupils aged education (compulsory) – organised for pupils aged 10(11)-14(15) and including grades V to VIII; 10(11)-14(15) and including grades V to VIII;

• two alternative educational routes after accomplishing two alternative educational routes after accomplishing compulsory education: compulsory education:

vocational education and training – organised within vocational education and training – organised within "apprenticeship schools" for pupils aged 14(15)-"apprenticeship schools" for pupils aged 14(15)-16(17) and including two years of study (I and II), or 16(17) and including two years of study (I and II), or within "vocational schools" for pupils aged 14(15)-within "vocational schools" for pupils aged 14(15)-17(18) and including three years of study (I to III); 17(18) and including three years of study (I to III);

upper secondary education namely the high school upper secondary education namely the high school education – organised for pupils aged 14(15)-18(19) education – organised for pupils aged 14(15)-18(19) and including grades IX to XII/XIII;and including grades IX to XII/XIII;

Graduation ExamsGraduation ExamsLower secondary education is to be finalised with a Lower secondary education is to be finalised with a

national exam consisting of 3(4) written national exam consisting of 3(4) written examinations on the following subjects: Romanian examinations on the following subjects: Romanian language, mother tongue (as the case may be), language, mother tongue (as the case may be), mathematics and, subject to the decision of the mathematics and, subject to the decision of the candidate, history of Romania or geography of candidate, history of Romania or geography of Romania. Passing of the exams is attested Romania. Passing of the exams is attested through a certificate. The graduates could through a certificate. The graduates could continue their education in the post-compulsory continue their education in the post-compulsory sequence according to their options and following sequence according to their options and following a selection and repartition procedure established a selection and repartition procedure established by the Ministry of Education. The criterion used by the Ministry of Education. The criterion used for this selection and repartition procedure was for this selection and repartition procedure was the "admission average mark"the "admission average mark"

Graduation ExamsGraduation Exams

High School education is finalised High School education is finalised with the national Baccalaureate with the national Baccalaureate Exam and, as the case may be, with Exam and, as the case may be, with a professional competences a professional competences certification/attestation exam.certification/attestation exam.

Financial arrangementsFinancial arrangements

According to the in-force legislation, According to the in-force legislation, all the public schools buildings are all the public schools buildings are the property of the local public the property of the local public domains and public pre-university domains and public pre-university education is financed from the local education is financed from the local budgets (town, commune; county – budgets (town, commune; county – only for special education). However, only for special education). However, certain costs are supported from the certain costs are supported from the state-budget through the County state-budget through the County School Inspectorates budgets.School Inspectorates budgets.

School ManagementSchool Management Management of pre-university educational units is Management of pre-university educational units is

ensured by heads of schools (headteachers) ensured by heads of schools (headteachers) assisted, according to the concrete conditions and assisted, according to the concrete conditions and the provisions of the law, by deputy heads of the provisions of the law, by deputy heads of schools (deputy headteachers). When exercising schools (deputy headteachers). When exercising their managerial duties, the heads of schools rely their managerial duties, the heads of schools rely on the teachers' council and the administrative on the teachers' council and the administrative council. Organisation and functioning of these council. Organisation and functioning of these bodies, as well as the specific attributions of the bodies, as well as the specific attributions of the heads of schools and of the deputy heads of heads of schools and of the deputy heads of schools are established through the Education Law schools are established through the Education Law (Law 84/1995), the Teaching Staff Statute (Law (Law 84/1995), the Teaching Staff Statute (Law 128/1997) and the Organising and Functioning of 128/1997) and the Organising and Functioning of the Pre-University Educational Units Regulation the Pre-University Educational Units Regulation (Order of the Minister of Education and Research (Order of the Minister of Education and Research 4747/2001).4747/2001).

Higher EducationHigher Education

Post secondary non-tertiary Post secondary non-tertiary education, including post-high education, including post-high school colleges; school colleges;

Tertiary (higher) education, Tertiary (higher) education, including university and post-including university and post-university education; university education;

Lifelong learning, education and Lifelong learning, education and training.training.

Education can be provided in the following forms:Education can be provided in the following forms: day-classes, day-classes, evening-classes, evening-classes, part-time education,part-time education, multiple-grades classes, multiple-grades classes, distance learning and distance learning and home schooling for certain children with special home schooling for certain children with special

educational needs that can not be moved. educational needs that can not be moved. As a rule, compulsory education is organized in As a rule, compulsory education is organized in day-classes. day-classes.

DiplomasDiplomas

The system gives the following diplomas: Absolvire The system gives the following diplomas: Absolvire

( elementary school graduation), Bacalaureat (high ( elementary school graduation), Bacalaureat (high school graduation, after the Bacalaureat exam), school graduation, after the Bacalaureat exam), Licenta ( University undergraduate graduation, after Licenta ( University undergraduate graduation, after an exam and/or thesis), Masterat ( Master’s degree, an exam and/or thesis), Masterat ( Master’s degree, after a thesis and possibly an exam), Doctorat ( Ph. after a thesis and possibly an exam), Doctorat ( Ph. D., after a thesis)D., after a thesis)

UniformsUniforms

Uniforms are a local issue. Few high schools have Uniforms are a local issue. Few high schools have uniforms, and in the case they do, they are uniforms, and in the case they do, they are particularly used for special occasions such as particularly used for special occasions such as festivities, conferences, sporting contests, etc. Many festivities, conferences, sporting contests, etc. Many high schools have their own radio stations, monthly high schools have their own radio stations, monthly or biannual magazines, etc.or biannual magazines, etc.