The Romanian education system is made up of the following levels:
1) Pre or early childhood education (0-6 years), consisting of:
a. Pre-pre-school for children aged 0-3 years.
b. Pre-school or kindergarten for children aged 3-6 years organized in groups: lower group, middle group, upper group.
2) Primary education made up of the kindergarten preparatory group and grades I to IV. Pupils can enroll to the first grade of primary school if they turn 6 or 7 during the respective calendar year.
3) Secondary education made up of:
a. Lower secondary (gymnasiums) which includes grades V to VIII and ends up with the taking of a “national test examination”. The examination tests pupils’ knowledge in the fields of Romanian language and literature and Mathematics.
b. Upper secondary (high-school) which includes grades X—XII and has the following branches: theoretical, technological and vocational (art, sport, theology). Enrollment is made on the basis of the results in the national test exam and the average degree of the gymnasium. High school studies end up with a “baccalaureate examination”. After passing this examination, the graduates get the “baccalaureate diploma”. Only students in the technological and vocational branches must take in addition a “qualification examination” and get a “qualification certificate”.
4) Professional education: is organized by technical and vocational high schools and form students in professions required by the job market. The studies end up with a “qualification examination”. After passing this examination, the graduates get a “qualification certificate”. Graduates can then continue their studies in the upper-secondary cycle, a technological or vocational high-school, in a low- frequency program.
5) Post high-school non-university education: lasts1 to 3 years and is organized in post-high schools forming the students in professions required by the job market. Admission is free (not granted on a competitive basis). High school graduates, whether they are baccalaurate diploma holders or not, can attend post high-school non-university education. For baccalaureate holders, credits obtained during the post high-school non university education can be recognized as units of transferable study credits for the university’s first cycle: bachelor degree.
6) Higher education
The general compulsory education is of 10 grades and includes primary education (grades I- IV), gymnasium or lower secondary education (grades V-VIII) and grades IX-X of high-school.
The obligation to attend the 10 grades education (the frequency form), ceases at the age of 18.
Education in technological and vocational high-schools, professional schools, non-university post-high schools is organized for specializations and qualifications established by The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, according to the National Registry of qualifications.
1) Pre or early childhood education (0-6 years), consisting of:
a. Pre-pre-school for children aged 0-3 years.
b. Pre-school or kindergarten for children aged 3-6 years organized in groups: lower group, middle group, upper group.
2) Primary education made up of the kindergarten preparatory group and grades I to IV. Pupils can enroll to the first grade of primary school if they turn 6 or 7 during the respective calendar year.
3) Secondary education made up of:
a. Lower secondary (gymnasiums) which includes grades V to VIII and ends up with the taking of a “national test examination”. The examination tests pupils’ knowledge in the fields of Romanian language and literature and Mathematics.
b. Upper secondary (high-school) which includes grades X—XII and has the following branches: theoretical, technological and vocational (art, sport, theology). Enrollment is made on the basis of the results in the national test exam and the average degree of the gymnasium. High school studies end up with a “baccalaureate examination”. After passing this examination, the graduates get the “baccalaureate diploma”. Only students in the technological and vocational branches must take in addition a “qualification examination” and get a “qualification certificate”.
4) Professional education: is organized by technical and vocational high schools and form students in professions required by the job market. The studies end up with a “qualification examination”. After passing this examination, the graduates get a “qualification certificate”. Graduates can then continue their studies in the upper-secondary cycle, a technological or vocational high-school, in a low- frequency program.
5) Post high-school non-university education: lasts1 to 3 years and is organized in post-high schools forming the students in professions required by the job market. Admission is free (not granted on a competitive basis). High school graduates, whether they are baccalaurate diploma holders or not, can attend post high-school non-university education. For baccalaureate holders, credits obtained during the post high-school non university education can be recognized as units of transferable study credits for the university’s first cycle: bachelor degree.
6) Higher education
The general compulsory education is of 10 grades and includes primary education (grades I- IV), gymnasium or lower secondary education (grades V-VIII) and grades IX-X of high-school.
The obligation to attend the 10 grades education (the frequency form), ceases at the age of 18.
Education in technological and vocational high-schools, professional schools, non-university post-high schools is organized for specializations and qualifications established by The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, according to the National Registry of qualifications.