1. 1 The Romanian Education System Romania endorses the principle of equal chances in education regardless of the individual characteristics – physical or mental impairments, cultural or socio- economic background, mother tongue, ethnic origin, geographically remote area of origin etc. The Ministry of Education considers that the education is a key instrument for preventing social exclusion of disadvantaged groups, especially Roma. In Romania, according to the Education Law (1995, revised in 2003), education is free and compulsory between the ages of 6(7) and 16(17). ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

2. 2 The national education system comprises: PRE-SCHOOL education (children aged 3 to 6/7);PRE-SCHOOL education (children aged 3 to 6/7); PRIMARY education (grades I - IV, children aged 6/7 to 10/11);PRIMARY education (grades I - IV, children aged 6/7 to 10/11); LOWER SECONDARY education (grades V – VIII and grades IX-X, children aged 10/11 to 16/17);LOWER SECONDARY education (grades V – VIII and grades IX-X, children aged 10/11 to 16/17); UPPER SECONDARY education (grades XI -XII/XIII);UPPER SECONDARY education (grades XI -XII/XIII); HIGHER education (University - 4 to 6 years or University College - 3 years of studies);HIGHER education (University - 4 to 6 years or University College - 3 years of studies); CONTINUOUS education.CONTINUOUS education. ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

3. 3 The National Bacalaureate Exam certifies the pupil’s capacities at the end of high-school and allows access to HIGHER education system. OTHER ACCESS WAYS TO EDUCATION: Second chance schools (compulsory education and professional qualification, 3.5 years);Second chance schools (compulsory education and professional qualification, 3.5 years); Professional education (professional qualification in art and craft schools, 2 or 3 years studies for students with a low rate of school performances);Professional education (professional qualification in art and craft schools, 2 or 3 years studies for students with a low rate of school performances); Post-high schools (eg. pedagogical, sanitary, economic profiles, 3 years studies, after Upper Secondary Education).Post-high schools (eg. pedagogical, sanitary, economic profiles, 3 years studies, after Upper Secondary Education). ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

4. 4 Roma registers the highest rate of pre-school and school non-attendance and school abandon. The causes are multiple, and often conjugated, limiting the access to quality education: - isolated communities, with highly difficult roads and no means of transportation;- isolated communities, with highly difficult roads and no means of transportation; - the low level of economic development of the areas;- the low level of economic development of the areas; · precarious financial situation of the families; - children as working force, in the household activities and agricultural activities; - lack of confidence in the education system of Roma families; ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

5. 5 - unqualified teaching staff; - unqualified teaching staff; - parental illiteracy; - linguistic difficulties, as an important number of Roma have the Romani language as mother tongue; - the issue of missing the ID; - discriminating mentalities towards the Roma population. - discriminating mentalities towards the Roma population. ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

6. 6 After analysing the frequent causes that resulted in school abandon and the lack of education, the Ministry of Education has taken the following measures: After analysing the frequent causes that resulted in school abandon and the lack of education, the Ministry of Education has taken the following measures: - - organising classes with reduced frequency in the primary school for illiterate adults; - - organising home teaching for the handicapped persons; - - setting up a Roma inspector position in each school county inspectorate; - initiating the programme for re-vitalising rural education; - initiating the programme for re-vitalising rural education; - granting special places in high schools, professional schools and colleges for Roma pupils; - granting special places in high schools, professional schools and colleges for Roma pupils; ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

7. 7 - - maintaining in the school network the classes with very low number of students in the rural areas and in the communities of minorities; - - providing school buses for children in schools from isolated communities; - - providing school supplies for children from socio- economic disadvantaged families; - - providing daily a glass of milk and a croissant for children in primary school; - initiating a three years open distance-learning programme for Roma high school graduates in teaching in Roma communities. - initiating a three years open distance-learning programme for Roma high school graduates in teaching in Roma communities. ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

8. 8 The SECOND CHANCE SCHOOLS in Romania In 1999, the Ministry of National Education, in association with an NGO - “Education 2000+” Center, sets the 2CS in Romania, by a minister order. PREMISES AND CONDITIONS the analysis of school dropout in rural areas and in roma communities;the analysis of school dropout in rural areas and in roma communities; a previous Phare VET Programme,RO -9405, developed in 75 schools from 7 counties;a previous Phare VET Programme,RO -9405, developed in 75 schools from 7 counties; good equipment for vocational education and well trained teachers in the targeted schools.good equipment for vocational education and well trained teachers in the targeted schools. ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

9. 9 PRESENTATION OF Romanian 2CS a flexible, specific and adapted curriculum for children/youngsters aged 14 to 25, aiming to offer them the continuation or the completion of compulsory education and also pre-vocational preparation ;a flexible, specific and adapted curriculum for children/youngsters aged 14 to 25, aiming to offer them the continuation or the completion of compulsory education and also pre-vocational preparation ; a flexible timetable, adapted to the needs of the students (eg. evening courses);a flexible timetable, adapted to the needs of the students (eg. evening courses); an internal evaluation system and also national standards for evaluation (the students have the right to be registered for the National Capacity Exam);an internal evaluation system and also national standards for evaluation (the students have the right to be registered for the National Capacity Exam); selected and periodically trained teachers;selected and periodically trained teachers; a school mediator, involving in school activities and in communication between the school, the family and the local community.a school mediator, involving in school activities and in communication between the school, the family and the local community. ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

10. 10 PRESENTATION OF Romanian PHARE 2001 Programme “Access to education for disadvantaged groups, with a special focus on Roma” The overall objective of the project is to fight against marginalisation and social exclusion by improving access to education for disadvantaged groups, with a special focus on Roma and the project purpose is: -to increase the availability and improve the conditions of pre-school education to stimulate early enrolment that is critical to children’s social and educational development, particularly for children from disadvantaged groups, including Roma; -to stimulate that children finalise compulsory education (prevention of dropout); -to provide second chance education for persons who did not complete their compulsory education (correction of dropout). ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

11. 11 The results of this project will be measurable in August 2004, at its completion and will include: - training programmes for teachers working in schools with disadvantaged Roma population on teaching methods adapted to the children needs and specific, intercultural education, curriculum development etc. available at county level;- training programmes for teachers working in schools with disadvantaged Roma population on teaching methods adapted to the children needs and specific, intercultural education, curriculum development etc. available at county level; - Open distance learning programme, targeted to Roma students to become primary and pre-primary school teachers and Romani language teachers;- Open distance learning programme, targeted to Roma students to become primary and pre-primary school teachers and Romani language teachers; - Roma mediators’ training programmes;- Roma mediators’ training programmes; - enriched educational offer developed on the basis of assessed needs and values of the Roma community;- enriched educational offer developed on the basis of assessed needs and values of the Roma community; ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

12. 12 - schools in disadvantaged communities, with a large Roma population with suitable human resources and proper facilities, able to provide quality education starting with the preparatory class in kindergarten, up to the 8th grade and pre-vocational training; - - educational equipment and materials in Roma related teaching subjects; - co-operation between school and Roma community in educational matters. ROMANIA THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH