THE NATIONAL ROMANIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

THE STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION PRE-UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Early education (0-6 years) Ante preschool level Preschool level Primary education Preparing grade I-IV grades Secondary education Lower secondary – gymnasium – grades V-IX Upper secondary – high school- grades X-XII /XIII : theoretical, technological, vocational. Professional education for a period between 6 months and 2 years Tertiary education

The professional and technical education is formed by: Compulsory general education is composed by lower primary and secondary level Technical education comprises grades XII and XIII from the professional, technical and vocational upper secondary school The professional and technical education is formed by: Professional education Technical education Post upper secondary school education

Study Formations Ante preschool education- 7 children, 5/9 Preschool education – 15 preschoolers, 10/20 Primary education – 20 pupils, 15/25 Lower secondary education – 25 pupils, 20/30 Upper secondary education – 25 pupils, 25/30 Special education for pupils with minor deficiencies- 10 pupils, 8/12 Special education for pupils with severe deficiencies- 5 pupils, 4/6

Teaching hours of the teachers per week 25 hours – preprimary teachers 20 hours – primary teachers 18 hours secondary school teachers

Elementary school Elementary school lasts eight years in Romania. Most elementary schools are public; MEC statistics show less than 2 percent of elementary school students attend private school. 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). 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 weeks in December-January; Spring (previously Easter) in April - 2 weeks; and Summer, spanning from the middle of June to September 15), with an additional free week in November for students in the first 4 years. Additionally, during the week before the Spring holiday, special activities (e.g. trips; contests) replace classes.

Primary school The first four years are taught by a single teacher for the most subjects. Additional teachers are assigned only for a few specialized subjects (Foreign Languages, Introduction to Computers, etc.). At the end of primary school, curriculum starts to become congested and it led over time to the high performance educational system we known today. For instance, a 4th grade student (9–10 years of age) may have on a weekly basis 4 classes of math; 4-5 classes of Romanian Language; 1 class of history; 1 class of geography; 1-2 classes of science; 2 classes of art; 1-3 classes of a foreign language (Usually French, English or German); 1 or 2 classes of Introduction to computers**; 1 class of Civic Education (a subject teaching everything from personal hygiene to the Constitution to manners in society); 1 of religion* (optional; parents can withdraw children from these classes; 1 of music; 2 of physical education *These subjects may or may not have teachers other than the main teacher. ** These subjects almost always have teachers other than the main teacher.

Gymnasium Classes are reshaped at the end of the 4th grade, based on academic performances. Many schools have special classes (such as intensive English classes or Informatics classes, providing one or two more courses in these subjects). Selection for such classes is done based on local tests. Assessing the students' performance is also different between primary and gymnasium cycles. Starting with the 5th grade, students have a different teacher for each subject. Furthermore, each class has a teacher designated to be class principal, besides teaching his or her usual subject. Additional counseling may be provided by a special counselor (counselor on educational issues) or by a school psychologist.

An 8th grade schedule may contain up to 30–32 hours weekly, or 6 hours daily, thus making it quite intensive, for instance: 4 classes of math; 4 classes of Romanian language 2 classes of history; 2 classes of geography 2 classes of biology; 1 class of introduction to computers 4 classes of a foreign language, usually French language and English language 2 classes of physics; 2 classes of chemistry 1 (only in the 8th grade) class of Latin 1 class of art and music 1 class of religion (optional; same situation like in Primary School regarding teachers.) 1 (only in the 7th and 8th grade) class of civic education 1 class of technology; 2 classes of physical education In addition schools may add 1 or 2 subjects at their free choice. This possibility gave rise to Intensive English Classes or Informatics Groups, accessible only by special exams in the 5th grade.

Most schools follow the tradition of school shifts (originally done for lack of space, but now tradition). Thus, school starts for some groups (usually years I to IV and VIII) at 7:30 or 8:00 and ends at 12:00–14:30, while other groups (years V-VII) start at 11:00–13:30 and end at 17:00–19:30. Normally, a class lasts 50 minutes, followed by a 10-minute break (and sometimes one 20-minute break). Some schools have a uniform for the first four grades, either the Ministry standardized issue or one of their own design. Years V-VIII almost never have a school uniform, nor any other dress code (but rulebooks provide for basic decency).

School after School Program By the decision of the School Administration Board there can be carried on activities such as “School after School” in partnership with the local public authorities, with the parents associations, NGO’s with competences in this area Educational, recreational activities, consolidating the learning competences or their acceleration, remedial learning activities. The Government can finance the School after School Program

Curriculum The number of hours: 20 hours – primary education 25 hours- lower secondary education 30 hours- upper secondary education Compulsory subjects 80% for the compulsory education 70% for the upper secondary education Within each subject 75% of the syllabus covers the teaching and evaluation classes 25% at the disposal of the teacher for remedial learning, individual learning plans.

Evaluation The objective of the evaluation is to orientate and optimize learning; All evaluations are made on the basis of national standards for evaluation for each school subject; The control of the usage and respecting of the national evaluation standards by the teachers is made through the school inspection

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. Starting with 2004, this examination is called The National Test and can be taken only once, in June. The subjects are Romanian Language and Literature and Mathematics (and additionally the language of the school for ethnic minority schools or classes and for bi-lingual schools). 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. The passing mark is 5 for each of the exams. If the student passes, he is allowed to enroll in a high school; should he fail, he will have to join a School of Crafts and Trades for two years. The finishing grade (also known as the admission grade) is computed as an average, taking into account for 50% an average of all the Yearly General Averages starting with year 5 and for the rest of 50% the mark obtained at the National Test (1-10, 10 being the highest, not rounded, precision 0.01).

Baccalaureate examination(school graduate examination) Examination A- the evaluation of the oral communication competences in Romanian language; Examination B- the evaluation of the communication competences in mother tongue Examination C- the evaluation of the communication competences in two international languages Examination D- the evaluation of the digital competences; Examination E written- - the evaluation of the competences which were formed during the upper secondary school(high-school) years

Examination E 1.Written examination at Romanian literature and language 2. Written examination at mother tongue 3. Two differentiated written examinations: 1)Real profile Mathematics Science trans-disciplinary examination 2) Humanities profile An international foreign language Interdisciplinary examination from geography, history, socio-humanities 3)Technological profile Written examination specific to the profile Trans-disciplinary examination Vocational profile

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM AND OF THE EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The management of the education institutions The institutions are managed by an administration board formed by 7,9,13 members After the formation of the AB there is chosen a session president, for an year Monthly meetings Attributions – public responsibility for the achievements of the education institution, together with the principal