The education system in Romania is regulated by the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports (Ministerul Educatiei, Cercetarii, Tineretului si Sportului). The general legal framework for the organization, administration and operation of education is set by the Constitution through the Education Law (Law 84/1995 republished, with subsequent amendments of which the latest one published in the Romania’s Official Gazette, January 10, 2011). In the effort of reforming the education, since the 1989 revolution every government brought its own mark. As a result the education law has changed several times and it is likely it will change again in the future.
Each education level has its own form of organization and is subject to different legislation.
Pre-university institutions (that organize primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education) are subordinated to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports by county school inspectorates. They ensure that law is observed and the evaluation of the education process.
Universities and other higher education institutions (third education cycle) are autonomous and are guaranteed by law the right to establish and implement their own development policies.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports does coordinate the universities and other higher education institutions but their autonomy is fully guaranteed. Higher education is also aligned onto the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) launched along with the Bologna Process' decade anniversary (in March 2010, during the Budapest-Vienna Ministerial Conference).
The public education is financed from state and local budgets (town, county etc). Businesses, individuals or legal entities may also finance education and training activities. Expenses covered by the state budget or local budgets depend on the education level and the type of institution offering the education. Law abiding, all state educational institutions can create and use their own income.
By 2010 public education in Romania has been funded at the level of 4% of GDP. A law amendment published on 10.01.2011 increased that percentage at 6% of GDP. Unfortunately for the education system, that after the 1989 revolution has been strongly under-financed, that increase remained only on paper. Difficult economic conditions the country has suffered for years combined with the global economic crisis that begun in 2008 led to a cut down of pre-university education personnel wages by 25% and elimination of all performance premiums (such as the thirteenth wage). The new amendment hasn’t been yet applied.
At all education levels and in parallel with the public education financed by state, there is also a recently-born system of private education.
Each education level has its own form of organization and is subject to different legislation.
Pre-university institutions (that organize primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education) are subordinated to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports by county school inspectorates. They ensure that law is observed and the evaluation of the education process.
Universities and other higher education institutions (third education cycle) are autonomous and are guaranteed by law the right to establish and implement their own development policies.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports does coordinate the universities and other higher education institutions but their autonomy is fully guaranteed. Higher education is also aligned onto the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) launched along with the Bologna Process' decade anniversary (in March 2010, during the Budapest-Vienna Ministerial Conference).
The public education is financed from state and local budgets (town, county etc). Businesses, individuals or legal entities may also finance education and training activities. Expenses covered by the state budget or local budgets depend on the education level and the type of institution offering the education. Law abiding, all state educational institutions can create and use their own income.
By 2010 public education in Romania has been funded at the level of 4% of GDP. A law amendment published on 10.01.2011 increased that percentage at 6% of GDP. Unfortunately for the education system, that after the 1989 revolution has been strongly under-financed, that increase remained only on paper. Difficult economic conditions the country has suffered for years combined with the global economic crisis that begun in 2008 led to a cut down of pre-university education personnel wages by 25% and elimination of all performance premiums (such as the thirteenth wage). The new amendment hasn’t been yet applied.
At all education levels and in parallel with the public education financed by state, there is also a recently-born system of private education.