Romanian School System
“A nation’s future is determined by the way it focuses on educating the young” – the great Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus asserted in the 17th century
The Romanian Education Law stipulates that „Romanian citizens have equal rights to all levels and forms of education, regardless of social condition, of sex, race, nationality, political or religious affiliation.”
According to the Law on Education adopted in 1995, the Romanian Educational System is regulated by the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports (www.edu.ro). Each level has its own form of organization and is subject to different legislation.
Ever since the Revolution in 1989, the Romanian education system underwent a continuous reorganization process which was both criticized and praised. The Romanian education reform was initiated after 1998 as a result of gradual democratization and the infusion of European and World Bank funds.
The structure of the education system in Romania is separated on 2 levels:
I. Pre-university education – divided into 5 levels
1. Preschool (or kindergarten) - duration: 3 years; it consists of 3 groups: “Junior/small group” (for children aged 3-4), “Middle group” (for children aged 4–5) and “Upper/big group” (sometimes called “School Preparation group”, for children aged 6–7).
2. Primary / Elementary School - grades I-IV
3. Secondary school (Gymnasium) - grades V-VIII
4. Highschool - grades IX-XII / XIII
4.1. Vocational education (school of arts and crafts)
5. Post-secondary education - can last between 2 and 5 years
II. Higher education – was reorganized so as to comply with the Bologna process principles, whose purpose is the creation of the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. The Romanian higher education system consists of 4 levels:
1. Undergraduate Studies (BA): 3-4 years (since 2005, 3 years)
2. Master Studies (MA): 1-2 years (since 2008, 2 years)
3. Doctoral studies (PhD): 3 years (since 2006)
4. Lifelong learning (post-graduate courses, continuous education).
School starts in the middle of September and ends in the middle of June the following year. It is divided into two semesters (September to January and February to June). There are four holiday seasons (Christmas - 2 weeks in December; Inter-semestrial - 1 week in February; Easter (either Orthodox or Catholic in April or May - 1 week; and Summer or The Great Holiday, spanning from June 18 to September 1), with an additional fifth holiday in November for students in the first 4 years.
The Romanian Education Law stipulates that „Romanian citizens have equal rights to all levels and forms of education, regardless of social condition, of sex, race, nationality, political or religious affiliation.”
According to the Law on Education adopted in 1995, the Romanian Educational System is regulated by the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports (www.edu.ro). Each level has its own form of organization and is subject to different legislation.
Ever since the Revolution in 1989, the Romanian education system underwent a continuous reorganization process which was both criticized and praised. The Romanian education reform was initiated after 1998 as a result of gradual democratization and the infusion of European and World Bank funds.
The structure of the education system in Romania is separated on 2 levels:
I. Pre-university education – divided into 5 levels
1. Preschool (or kindergarten) - duration: 3 years; it consists of 3 groups: “Junior/small group” (for children aged 3-4), “Middle group” (for children aged 4–5) and “Upper/big group” (sometimes called “School Preparation group”, for children aged 6–7).
2. Primary / Elementary School - grades I-IV
3. Secondary school (Gymnasium) - grades V-VIII
4. Highschool - grades IX-XII / XIII
4.1. Vocational education (school of arts and crafts)
5. Post-secondary education - can last between 2 and 5 years
II. Higher education – was reorganized so as to comply with the Bologna process principles, whose purpose is the creation of the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. The Romanian higher education system consists of 4 levels:
1. Undergraduate Studies (BA): 3-4 years (since 2005, 3 years)
2. Master Studies (MA): 1-2 years (since 2008, 2 years)
3. Doctoral studies (PhD): 3 years (since 2006)
4. Lifelong learning (post-graduate courses, continuous education).
School starts in the middle of September and ends in the middle of June the following year. It is divided into two semesters (September to January and February to June). There are four holiday seasons (Christmas - 2 weeks in December; Inter-semestrial - 1 week in February; Easter (either Orthodox or Catholic in April or May - 1 week; and Summer or The Great Holiday, spanning from June 18 to September 1), with an additional fifth holiday in November for students in the first 4 years.