ROMANIANROMANIAN EDUCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMSYSTEM

Number of children of compulsory age: 2.291.680(in 2006)Number of children of compulsory age: 2.291.680(in 2006)

Language of instruction: RomanianLanguage of instruction: Romanian

for all levels, teaching is also given in the for all levels, teaching is also given in the language of minorities :language of minorities :

Hungarian,Hungarian, German,German, RomaniRomani,, Turks,Turks, Czech,Czech, ItalianItalian

Administrative control and extent of Administrative control and extent of public- sector funded educationpublic- sector funded education

- 89,8% of all pupils attend public schools funded by - 89,8% of all pupils attend public schools funded by StateState

- private educational establesment are more common - private educational establesment are more common at higher educationat higher education

- the Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation - the Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation consists in several departments that are responsible consists in several departments that are responsible for different tasks and educational levelsfor different tasks and educational levels

- at regional level, each county has a School - at regional level, each county has a School Inspectorate managed by a general inspectorInspectorate managed by a general inspector

- each establishment has a school board and a - each establishment has a school board and a management board that assists head teachers in management board that assists head teachers in fulfilling their managerial tasksfulfilling their managerial tasks

Pre – primary educationPre – primary education

covers the 3 to 6 year old age groupcovers the 3 to 6 year old age group this type of education is provided in special institutions – kindergardens this type of education is provided in special institutions – kindergardens

(gr(grădiniţe), ădiniţe), most of them publicmost of them public attendance is optional and free of chargeattendance is optional and free of charge in 2007/2008, the rate of attendance was 77,6%in 2007/2008, the rate of attendance was 77,6%

the kindergardens offer education activities through:the kindergardens offer education activities through: - normal programmes ( 5 h/day)- normal programmes ( 5 h/day) - long type programmes (10h/day)- long type programmes (10h/day) - weekly programmes (5 days/week)- weekly programmes (5 days/week)

Compulsory education – lasts 10 Compulsory education – lasts 10 yearsyears

Primary level: 6 – 10 yearsPrimary level: 6 – 10 years

First phase of general lower First phase of general lower secondary school: 10-14 yearssecondary school: 10-14 years

Second phase of general or Second phase of general or specialized lower secondary level or specialized lower secondary level or vocational lower secondary levelvocational lower secondary level

Length of school day/week/yearLength of school day/week/year The school year comprises 175 days (35 weeks) of teaching, divided in 2 The school year comprises 175 days (35 weeks) of teaching, divided in 2

semestres.semestres. Courses are distributed over five days a week.Courses are distributed over five days a week. The number of periods (lasting 50 minutes) per week:The number of periods (lasting 50 minutes) per week: 18/20 hours – primary level18/20 hours – primary level 29/30 hours – first phase of general lower secondary school 29/30 hours – first phase of general lower secondary school up to 32 hours – lower cycle of high schoolup to 32 hours – lower cycle of high school up to 30 hours – in Arts and Trades schoolsup to 30 hours – in Arts and Trades schools The number of hours of teaching a year is:The number of hours of teaching a year is: 544 – for primary school544 – for primary school 788 - for gymnasium788 - for gymnasium 962 - for Arts and Trades schools962 - for Arts and Trades schools 933 - for lower cycle of high school933 - for lower cycle of high school..

Class sizeClass size

The average class size is 20 (it can be between 10 The average class size is 20 (it can be between 10 and 30).and 30).

the classes are made up of pupils of the same age; the classes are made up of pupils of the same age; in primary schools, subjects are taught only by one in primary schools, subjects are taught only by one

teacher(except for teacher(except for religion, foreign languages and physical religion, foreign languages and physical

education);education); at lower secondary level, a specialist teacher teaches at lower secondary level, a specialist teacher teaches

each subject.each subject.

Curricular control and contentCurricular control and content The curriculum includesThe curriculum includes: : the core curriculumthe core curriculum and and the curriculum at school’s disposalthe curriculum at school’s disposal Subjects are grouped according to Subjects are grouped according to 7 curricular areas7 curricular areas:: Language and communicationLanguage and communication Mathematics and natural sciencesMathematics and natural sciences ArtsArts Physical education Technologies Counseling and guidance

Teaching methods are not imposed by official regulations, but there are some recommendation concerning alternative textbooks, homework and didactic use of ICT.

Assesment, progression and Assesment, progression and qualificationqualification

- - pupils are assessed by teachers through the school year;pupils are assessed by teachers through the school year;

- pupils in difficulty can be helped by specialized teachers;- pupils in difficulty can be helped by specialized teachers;

- at the end of primary school, pupils move automatically on the - at the end of primary school, pupils move automatically on the next level;next level;

- at the end of the gymnasium, based on a selection and repartition - at the end of the gymnasium, based on a selection and repartition procedure established by The Ministry of Education, pupils have to procedure established by The Ministry of Education, pupils have to choose one of two institutions for continuation of lower secondary choose one of two institutions for continuation of lower secondary education: Lyceum or Arts and trades schools.education: Lyceum or Arts and trades schools.

There is no final examination at the end of lower secondary There is no final examination at the end of lower secondary education, which coincides with the end of compulsory education stage.education, which coincides with the end of compulsory education stage.

The entrance in the upper cycle of lyceum, of pupils who The entrance in the upper cycle of lyceum, of pupils who

graduated the lower cycle of Lyceum, is based on the methodology graduated the lower cycle of Lyceum, is based on the methodology defineddefined..

Post – compulsory education/upper secondary andPost – compulsory education/upper secondary andpost secondary levelpost secondary level

Types of education

Vocational upper secondary – completition year - 16-17 yearsGeneral and specialized upper secondary (Lyceum) – 16-18 yearsPost secondary education – 18-20/21 years.

Curricula and content

The curriculum covers 7 curricular areas.The importance of each group of subjects varies according to the

type of school.

Assessment, progression and Assessment, progression and qualificationqualification

Pupils are assessed by teachers continuously, in all subjects, during the Pupils are assessed by teachers continuously, in all subjects, during the whole year.whole year.

Graduates of completition year are awarded a graduation certificate, a Graduates of completition year are awarded a graduation certificate, a copy of the record containing the marks received..copy of the record containing the marks received..

After facing a vocational examination, they may obtain a level two After facing a vocational examination, they may obtain a level two qualification certificate. They may attend upper secondary education.qualification certificate. They may attend upper secondary education.

There is a final examination at the end of the upper cycle of Lyceum.There is a final examination at the end of the upper cycle of Lyceum. The diploma accompanying this examination allows pupils to apply to The diploma accompanying this examination allows pupils to apply to

take entrance examination for higher education.take entrance examination for higher education. Any pupil who completes upper secondary education can apply to take Any pupil who completes upper secondary education can apply to take

the entrance examination for post –secondary education.the entrance examination for post –secondary education. Post – secondary leaving certificate grants students access to the labour Post – secondary leaving certificate grants students access to the labour

market.market.

Tertiary educationTertiary education

Types of institutions

Since 2005/2006 academic year, all higher education institutions, private and public, have been obliged by the 2004 low to implement the three- cycle

structure. The first (Bachelor’s) cycle include 180 to 240 transferable study

credits equivalents with ECTS and lasts 3 or 4 years.

The second (Master’s) cycle includes a min. 90 to max. 120 transferable study credit and lasts one or two years.

Doctoral studies can be organized on full or part – time basis by higher education or research institution. The length of doctoral courses corresponds to

three years of full time work.

AccesAcces QualificationsQualifications

According to Education Low, only high school graduates

holding a baccalaureate diploma can be admitted in

higher education.

The higher education institutions establish the

admission.

Finalization of the bachelor’s studies is accomplished through an exam – examen

de licenta.

Successful students can go on to attend the second cycle of higher

education.

Master degree studies end with a final exam and graduates receive a diploma.

Doctoral studies are finalized through

a thesis publicly defended and evaluated by a commission of

specialists approved by the university senate.

Teachers Teachers

Pre – primary education teacher and primary education teacher are trained in pedagogical high schools.

Lower and upper secondary school teachers are trained in higher education.

Current reforms and prioritiesCurrent reforms and priorities Romanian education system is under continuous changes and Romanian education system is under continuous changes and

improvements in various domains and levels.improvements in various domains and levels. Curriculum reforms aims at:Curriculum reforms aims at: - more flexible enhancement curricula and syllabus;- more flexible enhancement curricula and syllabus; - revision of curriculum of the 2 cycle of high school;- revision of curriculum of the 2 cycle of high school; - curriculum adjustment to individual learning and - curriculum adjustment to individual learning and

training needs;training needs; - development of creative and critical thinking, use of - development of creative and critical thinking, use of

modern technologies, problem – solving;modern technologies, problem – solving; - linking acquired knowledge and competences to the - linking acquired knowledge and competences to the

new context, related to concrete situation of real life;new context, related to concrete situation of real life; - valorizing compulsory education as a basis for - valorizing compulsory education as a basis for

lifelong learninglifelong learning..

Development of social partnershipDevelopment of social partnership

The local community providing reliable The local community providing reliable information about the local labor market can information about the local labor market can suggest adequate ways for meeting demand of suggest adequate ways for meeting demand of certain qualifications.certain qualifications.

Further vocational training is carried out Further vocational training is carried out within the educational system, using specific within the educational system, using specific programmes initiated and organized by public programmes initiated and organized by public or private institutions, in the spirit of social or private institutions, in the spirit of social partnership.partnership.

Special needsSpecial needs

The policy of integration is currently being The policy of integration is currently being

developed in Romania.developed in Romania.

Most children with SEN attend the Most children with SEN attend the corresponding special schools.corresponding special schools.