THE NATIONAL

EDUCATION SYSTEM IN
ROMANIA

EDUCATION IN ROMANIA
It is based on a tuition-free, egalitarian system.
Access to free education is guaranteed by Article
32 in the Constitution of Romania. Education is
regulated and enforced by the Ministry of National
Education.
OVERVIEW OF THE EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM
It is divided into two levels: Pre-University and Higher
Education.
The Pre-University level is divided in 5 cycles: Pre-
school education, Primary education, Gymnasium,
High school education/Crafts and Trade schools,
Post high school education.
The Higher education offers:
Bachelor studies
Master studies
PhD studies
Lifelong learning
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
It lasts nine years in Romania. Most elementary
schools are public;
Unless parents choose a school earlier, the future
student is automatically enrolled in the school
nearest to his or her residence.
Education is free in public schools (including some
books and auxiliary materials), but not entirely
(some textbooks, notebooks, pencils and uniforms
might be required to be purchased).
Kindergarten is optional under the age of six.
At the age of six, children must join the
"preparatory school year", which is mandatory
in order to enter the first grade.
Schooling starts at the age of seven, and is
compulsory until the tenth grade (which
corresponds with the age of sixteen or
seventeen). The school educational cycle
ends in the twelfth grade, when students
graduate the baccalaureate.
Higher education is aligned onto the European
Higher Education Area.
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
December and January to June).
There are four holiday seasons (Christmas - 3
or 2 depending on the annual curriculum
weeks i n December -Januar y; Spr i ng
(previously Easter) in April 2weeks; and
Summer, spanning from the middle of June to
September 15), with an additional free week
in November for students in the first 5 years.
Additionally, during the week before the
Spring holiday, special activities (e.g. trips,
contests) replace classes.
GRADING CONVENTIONS
For the first five years a system similar to E-S-N-U,
where each letter denotes the performance of the
student, is used, known as calificative. These are
Foarte bine (FB) Excellent, Bine (B) Good,
Satisfctor/Suficient (S) Satisfactory, actually
meaning (barely) passing, Nesatisfctor/Insuficient
(N/I) Failed.
For grade 5 to 12, a 1 to 10 grading system is used
with 10 being the best, 1 being the worst and 5
being the minimum passing grade.

KINDERGARTEN
Children can start as early as three years old
and can stay until they are six or seven
years old.
It is optional and typically lasts for 3 or 4
forms:
"Small Group" (Grupa Mic) for children
aged 34
"Middle Group" (Grupa Mijlocie), for
children aged 45
"Big Group" (Grupa Mare) for children
aged 56
Gr oups t ypi cal l y have 1-2 t eacher s
(educatori) and 20-30 children.

Most kindergartens offer parents three types
of programs:
a short schedule (typically 8 am to 1 pm,
with one snack or meal)
a medium schedule (typically 8 am to 3
pm, with one snack and one meal)
a long schedule (typically 8 am to 56 pm,
with three snacks and one meal, and almost
always including after lunch sleeping periods).

ADMISSION TO HIGH SCHOOL
At the end of the 8th year of school (at age 14 or 15) a
nation-wide test is taken by all students, it is called The
National Test and it can be taken only once, in June. The
subjects are Romanian Language and Literature and
Mathematics.
Many high schools provide classes with intensive study
of a foreign language, such as English, French, German
or Spanish; a two-part examination (Grammar/
Vocabulary and Speaking) is required for them.
A national computerized system does the repartition, by
taking into account students' options filled in the nation-
wide form before the exam, in the order of their
preferences and their "admission grade".
TYPES OF HIGH SCHOOLS
There are five types of high schools in Romania:
National College, Military College, Economic or
Technical College, Standard High school and A group
of two schools a high schools and a Craft and Trade
School; based on the type of education offered and
their academic performance, all of these allow for a
high school diploma, access to the Baccalaureate
exam and therefore access to University studies.
High school studies are four years in length, two
compulsory (9th and 10th year), two non-compulsory
(11th and 12th year).
Each type of high-school is free to offer one or more
academic programs: Theoretical program, Technical
programs, Vocational programs, Services and
Economics programs.