ROMANIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

ROMANIA

ROMANIA

Education Act 1995 Basic principles Education is a national priority Education is a national priority Education is based on democratic values Education is based on democratic values Romania endorses the principle of equal chances in education regardless of gender, individual characteristics – physical or mental impairments, cultural or socio-economic background, mother tongue, ethnic origin, religion etc. Romania endorses the principle of equal chances in education regardless of gender, individual characteristics – physical or mental impairments, cultural or socio-economic background, mother tongue, ethnic origin, religion etc. Minorities have a right to education in their own language Minorities have a right to education in their own language Public education is tax free Public education is tax free

Pre-university education recent changes in the Education Act Beginning of compulsory education at the age of 6 Beginning of compulsory education at the age of 6 10 grades of compulsory education: I - X 10 grades of compulsory education: I - XConsequence: Young people leave compulsory education at the age of 16, when the law allows them to integrate the work market Change in the structure of secondary education, giving young people the opportunity to enter vocational education and training inside compulsory education, through the art and trades school Change in the structure of secondary education, giving young people the opportunity to enter vocational education and training inside compulsory education, through the art and trades school A vocational path with progressive certification A vocational path with progressive certification

University education recent changes Introduction, in the legal provisions, of the Bologna decisions: First cycle (3-4 years), leading to bachelor degree First cycle (3-4 years), leading to bachelor degree Second cycle (1-2 years), leading to master degree Second cycle (1-2 years), leading to master degree Third cycle (3 years), leading to PhD Third cycle (3 years), leading to PhD * Implementation of the European transferable credits system * Restructuring of university specializations

Romanian Education System Description The Romanian educational structure consists of a vertical system of schooling. Five main components represent the fundamental pillars of this system: 1. Pre-school education, 2. Compulsory education, 3. Upper secondary education, 4. Vocational education and training, 5. Tertiary education.

1. Pre-school education (kindergarten) 1. Pre-school education (kindergarten) Pre-school education is not yet part of the compulsory cycle, and attendance is correlated with income and social class. Pre-school education is designed for children 3 to 7 years old. Pre-school education is not yet part of the compulsory cycle, and attendance is correlated with income and social class. Pre-school education is designed for children 3 to 7 years old.

PRE-KINDER–GARDEN (3 years) Age: From 0 to 3 YEARS OLD Age: From 0 to 3 YEARS OLD Founding: Financed by the Government Founding: Financed by the Government Teacher requirements: 3 years University degree Teacher requirements: 3 years University degree Compulsory: No Compulsory: No

KINDER – GARDEN (3 or 4 years) Age: From 3 to 6 years old Age: From 3 to 6 years old Or From 3 to 7 years old (with an additional pre-school class) Or From 3 to 7 years old (with an additional pre-school class) Founding: Financed by the Government Founding: Financed by the Government Teacher requirements: 3 years University degree Teacher requirements: 3 years University degree Compulsory: No Compulsory: No

2. Compulsory education - Primary education -General school- 2. Compulsory education - Primary education -General school- The compulsory cycle of education consists of four years of primary and four years of middle school education. All Romanian pupils normally will begin primary education at age 7 but may be admitted at age 6 if they are "at an appropriate stage of mental and physical development" and have completed the final pre-school year. Pupils may leave school at age 16 even if the"compulsory"requirement remains unsatisfied. All Romanian pupils normally will begin primary education at age 7 but may be admitted at age 6 if they are "at an appropriate stage of mental and physical development" and have completed the final pre-school year. Pupils may leave school at age 16 even if the"compulsory"requirement remains unsatisfied.

PRIMARY SCHOOL (4 years) Age: From 6 or 7 years old to 10 or 11 years old Age: From 6 or 7 years old to 10 or 11 years old Founding: Financed by the Government Founding: Financed by the Government Teacher requirements: 3 years University degree Teacher requirements: 3 years University degree Compulsory: Yes Compulsory: Yes

LOWER SECONDARY -General school -High school (lower cycle) -Arts and trades school

LOWER SECONDARY -SCHOOL GENERAL (4 years) Age: From 10 or 11 years old to 14 or 15 years old Age: From 10 or 11 years old to 14 or 15 years old Founding: Financed by the Government Founding: Financed by the Government Teacher requirements: 3 years University degree Teacher requirements: 3 years University degree Compulsory: one form of lower secondary school required Compulsory: one form of lower secondary school required

Admission criteria The national exam of Capacity was renamed National Tests (same content).

Non compulsory education. Upper secondary education - High school - Vocational education: Vocational school Apprentice school Non compulsory education. Upper secondary education - High school - Vocational education: Vocational school Apprentice school High school education in Romania normally lasts four years from grade IX to grade XII in day classes or five years in evening or extramural classes. The almost 1300 institutions are overwhelmingly public, but an increasing number of private schools have emerged in recent years, predominantly in urban locations. High school education in Romania normally lasts four years from grade IX to grade XII in day classes or five years in evening or extramural classes. The almost 1300 institutions are overwhelmingly public, but an increasing number of private schools have emerged in recent years, predominantly in urban locations. Public upper secondary education is free. Textbooks are offered free of charge to the pupils from economically disadvantaged families. Public upper secondary education is free. Textbooks are offered free of charge to the pupils from economically disadvantaged families.

The structure of the high school is: A) theoretical orientation: Hard sciences profile, specialization: math – informatics and natural sciences Humanities profile, specializations: philology, humanities and social sciences B) technological orientation: Technical profile Services profile Exploitation of natural resources and environment protection profile C) aptitude based orientation: Sports profile Military profile Theological profile Artistic profile Pedagogical profile

HIGH SCHOOL Age: From 14 or 15 years old to 18 or 19 years old Age: From 14 or 15 years old to 18 or 19 years old Founding: Financed by the Government Founding: Financed by the Government Teacher requirements: 4 or 5 years University degree Teacher requirements: 4 or 5 years University degree Final: Bacalaureat exam Final: Bacalaureat exam Compulsory: YES (2 YEARS) Compulsory: YES (2 YEARS)

Length of the school day/week/year The school year comprises 179 days (36 weeks) of teaching, divided in two semesters. Courses are distributed over five days a week. Class size/student grouping (average) The number of pupils per teacher are 18 at primary school level and 13 at lower secondary level. The average class size is 20. The number of pupils per class (by law) is between 10 and 30.

Responsibility and Administration Ministry of Education and Research Ministry of Education and Research - formulates and implements educational policies and strategies. - initiates Government decisions. - approves the curricula, the national assessment standards and the education units network. - is responsible for the distribution of the financial resources from the state budget to the school inspectorate.

School inspectorate (one in each of the 40 counties) -distributes the financial resource to schools. -appoints and revokes the headmaster of the school. -is responsible for the teaching staff policy and the approval of the trades and specializations that are to be taught. School unit is responsible for the organization and implementation of training programs and the way the financial resources are used. Submits to the inspectorate the list of trades and specializations that are to be taught.

4 Post high school Tertiary education- non university 3 Non compulsor y 18XIII 3 High school - upper cycle - Upper secondary 3 17XII High school -upper cycle- 2 16XI Completion year 15X 2 High school -lower cycle- Arts and trades school Lower secondary 1 Compulsor y 14IX 13VIII General school - 12VII 11VI 1 10V 9IV Primary school Primary education 8III 7II 6I 5 Preparatory group for school 0Kindergarten Pre school education Non compulsor y 4 Middle group 3BeginnersAgeGradeISCED Education levels Qual.Type>1965 University - master Tertiary education - university 54Non compulsor y University - bachelor

PRIVATE SECTOR ANY LEVEL BUT WITH THE APPROVEMENTS FROM THE MINISTERY OF EDUCATION

The curriculum The new curriculum framework has the following objectives: - to decentralise, to enhance flexibility and to reduce the formal requirements of the curriculum and the syllabius; - to adapt the curriculum to the individual learning and training needs, in accordance with the changes taking place in society; - to guide learning towards skill development, to use interactive methods, to stimulate creative and critical thinking, as well as the pupils’ independent activity, inquisitive spirit, and the individual problem-solving ability; - to use information in new contexts, related to concrete situations in private or social life.