ROMANIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

The national education system consists of all units and state and private institutions of various types, levels and forms of organising the training and education activities. The national education system is structured in educational levels so as to ensure the coherence of instruction and education in accordance with the age and individual characteristics of pupils and students. The official language of instruction is Romanian, but at all levels is also taught in minority languages (Bulgarian, Polish, Hungarian, German, Serbian, Ukrainian, Czech, Croatian, Turkish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak)

The national system of pre-university education is structured on four levels:

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN 3-4 years old

MIDDLE-AGE GROUP IN KINDERGARTEN 4-5

years old

ELDER-AGE GROUP IN KINDERGARTEN 5-6 years

old

HIGH PREARATORY-for school- GROUP 5-6/7

years old

PRE-SCHOOL (KINDERGARTEN) EDUCATION

PRIMARY LEVEL EDUCATION

Ist-IVth grades 6/7-10/11 years old

LOWER SECONDARY LEVEL

GYMNASIUM Vth-VIIIth grades

10/11-14/15 years old

HIGH-SCHOOL or School of Arts and

Crafts IXth-Xth

14/15-16/17 years old

UPPER SECONDARY LEVEL

HIGH-SCHOOL- XI-XII/XIII grades 18/19 years old

POST SECONDARY LEVEL > 19 YEARS OLD

POST-HIGHSCHOOL

SCHOOL OF TRADES

HIGHER EDUCATION

Bachelor Studies

Master Studies

Doctoral Studies

The Leadership (the Management) of the school is assured by Directors (Headmasters). In carrying out their managerial responsibilities, Headmasters rely on The Council of Teachers and The Administration Council. The Council of Teachers has a decizional role in the educational domain, is composed of all teachers and is chaired by the Headmaster, and The Administration Council serves as the administrative decision.

The compulsory education lasts for 10 years and is divided into three cycles: Primary Education (four years), the first phase of General Lower Secondary Level (four years) and the second phase of Lower Secondary Level, which provides general, specialist or professional courses (two years).

Pre-Primary EducationPre-Primary Education (Kindergarten): the last year of

Kindergarten (called Preparatory school year) is part of compulsory education and involves explicit training for primary education. Pre-primary education is aimed at children aged between 3 and 6 / 7 years. Its purpose is to provide both care during the day and specific experience in kindergarten at an early age, focusing increasingly more on preparing for education / formal training. The 2011-2012 high-preparatory group will be called class 0 and will enter primary school. This level of education is done both in public institutions, the vast majority, and in private institutions.

This type of education is provided in special institutions – nurseries, most of them public, organized in three types of programs offered in the same or different nursery: normal, prolonged or weekly. Frequency is not mandatory, and the service is free, but for children who are enrolled in kindergartens in prolonged or weekly program, parents or legal advocates must pay a monthly contribution to cover part of the cost of food and accommodation (off the public subsidy provided.

Primary Education consists of classes I-IV and beginning with 2011-2012 will also include class 0 (6-7years).National curriculum for grades I - IV is divided into the following seven subject areas (separated on the basis of principles and criteria for such epistemological and psycho-pedagogy): I. Language and Communication, II. Mathematics and Natural Sciences, III. Man and Society, IV. Arts, V. Physical Education and Sport, VI. Technologies, VII. Advice and guidance. Optional subjects and activities can be organized in any of the curricular areas.

In primary education, each student assessment (continuous, formative or summative) for eachsubject is materialized in a rating scale: ''insufficient'', ''sufficient'', ''good'‘ and ''very good “.

Secondary education (classes V-VIII) is the first stage of lower secondary education, following the elementary first four grades. Secondary education can be organized in various types of schools, but most often is held in conjunction with primary grades resulting schools with classes I-VIII. Especially in urban areas there are schools offering both primary and secondary education (grades I-XII/XIII), or only secondary education (grades V-XII/XIII).

The national curriculum for primary and secondary education is structured in two parts: core curriculum and the school curriculum. The core curriculum is providing common and compulsory education for all students, established at national level, consisting of the same school subjects, the same allocation zones - corresponding to a year of study - for which the same curricula. In middle school (classes V-VIII, general education) are admitted all students who have passed primary education (grades I-IV).

Lower secondary education - High School The High School is the educational institution offering to secondary school graduates with a graduation certificate the chance to specialize in various domains and to prepare for employment and / or continuing education in subsequent education levels - higher post-secondary non-tertiary education. High school education is organized in three branches of study: -Theoretical branch offering two profiles: humanistic (literacy) and numeracy;  -Technological branch offering three educational profiles: technical, services and natural resources exploitation and environmental protection; -Vocational education, divided into five profiles/specializations: military, order and public security, theological, sports, arts and teaching.  The theoretical branch is usually organized in theoretical high schools and is mainly dedicated to preparing students to acquire higher qualifications through higher education. In secondary education the assessment is done by providing students grades from 1-10 in each discipline of study. The evaluation can be oral, written, based on practical activities, reports and projects, interviews, portfolios and other tools developed by the educational director or developed and approved by the Ministry.

The secondary education works every day of the week (system with 5 school days / week). The duration of one class is about 50 minutes and each lesson is followed by a 10-minute break.

The AdmissionSecondary school graduates are admitted to junior

high school (grades IX-X) based on a selection and placement procedures established by the Ministry. Secondary school graduates can continue their studies in lower secondary compulsory education according to their options following some selection and placement procedures established by the Ministry. The criterion used for this procedure is the “admission average”.

Secondary education is completed by school-leaving examination (Baccalaureate), diversified according to the profile and expertise, depending on the options of the candidates. The Baccalaureate examination is a national exam.

Distribution of responsibilities: The Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports is the central authority The School Inspectorate, one in each county of Romania and 6 in Bucharest - one in each sector, plus a general one – represents the intermediate authority . The School as a unit is the last element in the chain of responsibility and authority from top to bottom.

IN THE LAST 21 YEARS, THE ROMANIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM HAS SUFFERED MOST CHANGES, ACCORDING TO THE RULING

PARTY.

SINCE 9th OF FEBRUARY A NEW EDUCATIONAL LAW WAS PROMULGATED AND THIS WILL APPLY BEGINNING WITH THE

1st OF SEPTEMBER 2011.