THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN ROMANIA

Romanian Education al System’s Description The Romanian educational structure consists in 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) Pre-school education is not yet part of the compulsory cycle being designed for children who are 3 to 7 years old. 2. Compulsory education - Primary education - Middle school - Lower secondary education The compulsory cycle of education consists of four years of primary, four years of middle school and two years of lower secondary education. All Romanian pupils normally will begin primary education at the age of 7 but may be admitted at the age of 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 the age of 16.

3. Non compulsory education ( Upper secondary education) - High school - Vocational education: Vocational schools Apprentice schools The structure of high school is: A) theoretical orientation: - Sciences profile, specialization: math – informatics and natural sciences - Humanities profile, specializations: philology 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 Almost 1300 institutions are public (financially sustained by the state), but an increasing number of private schools have emerged in recent years. Public upper secondary education is free. Textbooks are offered free of charge to the pupils from economically disadvantaged families. High school education in Romania normally lasts for four years (from IX th grade to XII th grade) in day classes or five years in evening classes. Having graduated the XII th or the XIII th grade, pupils have to pass the Bachelorette in order to apply for further education.

Higher education (college) Higher education offers specialization in a certain field. After having accepted the Bologna system, most Universities in Romania propose three or four years of License studies. Admission is ensured by a competitive entrance examination and it is accessible for bachelorette diploma holders. Post graduate studies (two years of Master studies and another three years of Doctoral studies) complete the Higher education. Higher education is mainly public but also private.

Responsibility and Administration 1. The Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports 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. 2. The School Inspectorate ( there is one in each of the 40 counties) -distributes the financial resources to schools. -appoints and revokes the headmasters. -is responsible for the teaching staff policy and the approval of the trades and specializations that are to be taught.

The 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.