DOCUMENT RESUME ED 065 419 SO 003 774 AUTHOR Braham, Randolph L. TITLE Education in Romania: A Decade of Change. SPONS AGENCY Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, D.C. REPORT NO DHEW-0E-14161 PUB DATE 72 CONTRACT OEC-0-70-3272 NOTE 155p. EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$6.58 DESCRIPTOR'S Adult Education; *Comparative Education; *Educational Administration; *Educational Change; *Educational Development; Educational History; Educational Philosophy; Educational Policy; *Educational Practice; Educational Programs; Elementary Education; Government Role; Higher Education; Preschool Education; Secondary Education; Vocational Education IDENTIFIERS *Romania ABSTRACT This second study of Romanian education reports important reforms that have strengthened the educational system and, moreover, provides a picture of the system at all education levels as of the 1969-70 academic year. Since Communist acquisition of power late in 1947, three major educational reforms have reflected a progressive nationalistic educational trend. The first, in 1947, aligned Romania's Western-oriented educational system with that of the Soviet Union; the second, in 1955, called for reorganization of the schools along polytechnical lines. Revealing a bolder posture toward national independence and also reflecting political aspirations and educational objectives of the regime, the third reform in the 1960's was designed to further Romania's long-range plans for industrialization and technical development and fostered change in general education, higher education, teacher education, and the vocational system. Among the achievements of this latter reform were: 1)the revitalization and modernization of higher education, and alignment of Romania's higher education with the modernization process occurring in the west; 2) extension from 8 to 10 years of free and compulsory education; 3) a rise of enrollment at all levels; and, 4) reorganization of vocational education. (SJM) AIM ID NIL e t , 77 , + 4k1, . 4i.4,4z,',1-1,11,-,41, = Highlights At the Ninth Party Congress of July 1965, the official name of the country was changed from the People's Republic of Romania to the Socialist Republic of Romania (Republica Socialistd Romdnia). In spite of the relatively great strides in industrialization during the 1960's, over 60 percent of the people continue to live in rural areas. Committed to rapid,full-scaleindustrialization and modernization, Romania displayed during the 1960's a posture of independence and nationalism, which brought about significant developments in the edu- cation field. Ultimate decisionmaking power in all spheres of life, including educa- tion, continues to lie in the Communist Party acting under the direction of its top leadership. The third major educational reform since the Communist acquisition of power late in 1947 was enacted into law in May 1968 and implemented in the beginning of the 1968-69 academic year. The system of free and compulsory education was extended from 7 to 8 years in 1961 and from 8 to 10 years in 1968. As reorganized in 1968-69, the secondary schools are of two basic types: academic (general) and specialized (agricultural, economic, health- oriented, or industrial). In 1968, a number of 2-year institutions of higher learning were estab- lished to train "junior engineers" and "architectural foremen." 62thit WifkY 2 5 1972 0E-14161 1i WiLOO<W 1,11 Z(ZIALL 41(eZ Wq0ZWIZ W oa.0ILZIOCLeNw25z .8 zmo<u)002_, Wz,uxaccu) educationin tcoztwzomA'ol-ou fhom=g6..g.11-(7) al: . wo00-30-4(z°o .wo,.m 14 muw.0_,OoLuz(nu'z'.m- .< ROMANIA: A DECADE OF CHANGE a% by 14-1 Randolph L. Braham The City College of the City University of New York U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Elliot L. Richardson, Secretary Office of Education S. P. Marland, Jr., Commissioner of Education Institute of International Studies Robert Leestma, Associate Commissioner for International Education I. 3 . This report was made by Randolph L. Braham, The City College, New York, N.Y., pursuant to Con- tract No. OEC-0-40--3272 with the Office of Educa- tion, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Opinions expressed in the report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official policy of the U.S. Office of Education. Superintendent of Documents Catalog No. HE 5.214:14161 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON: 1972 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $1Stock Number 1780-0814 11 .1 Foreword Among U.S. Office of Education reports on education in other coun- tries have been several studies of Eastern European education systems. The most recent are "Education in the Hungarian People's Republic" (1970), "The Educational System of Yugoslavia" (1970), and "Soviet Programs in International Education" (1971). The present report is the second study of Romanian education to be published by the Office of Education. Since the first study in 1963, national developments in Rormania and the strengthening of its educa- tion system have been reflected in important educational reforms. This second report documents these developments at all educational levels and provides a picture of the education system as of the 1969-1970 academic year. As the author of the earlier study, Dr. Braham is particu- larly well qualified to trace the changes in Romanian education since 1963. In addition to these reports on Romanian education, Dr. Braham has done two other comparative education studies for the Office of Educa- tion: "Israel: A Modern Education System" (1966) and the 1970 study on Hungarian education. Dr. Braham has requested that acknowledgment and thanks be given here to Seymour Rosen for his careful professional review and helpful critical comment during the preparation of this study. Mr. Rosen is Specialist in Education in the U.S.S.R. anti Eastern Europe in the Office of Education's Institute of International Studies and author of several related studies on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. ROBERT LEESTMA Associate Commissioner for International Education Contents Page I: Romania, 1960-70A Retrospect I Geographic-Administrative Reform I Demographic Changes 2 Political Evolution: From People's Democracy to Socialist Republic 3 Government 4 The Communist Party 6 II: Changes in EducationAn Overview 10 The 1960's 11 The Reform of 1968 13 Goals and Principles 17 Administration 17 Financing 21 Types of Education and Training 24 The Youth Organizations 32 Enrollment 37 Romania's Role in International Education 41 III: Preprimary Education 44 Organization, Structure, and Function 44 Administration 45 Enrollment 45 IV: Elementary and Secondary Education 47 The New Compulsory System 47 Types of Schools 48 Administration 51 Educational Processes 52 Textbooks 60 Examinations and Grading 61 Enrollment 62 V: Vocational and Technkal Education 71 Reforms 71 Types of Schools 72 Administration and the Educational Process 77 Enrollment 77 V Page VI: Higher Education 83 Reforms of the 1960's 83 Organization and Structure 84 Administration 86 Types of Institutions 91 The Student Body and the Educational Process 95 Scientific Degrees and Their Requirements 101 Postuniversity Education 104 Enrollment 111 VII: Teachers and Teacher Education 114 Education Manpower 114 The System of Teacher Education 115 Teachers and Their Status 117 Teachers in the Pre-Higher Education System 118 Teachers in Higher Education 121 Remuneration 123 Appendixes A.Glossary 125 B.Romanian Higher Education Institutions, 1968 131 C.Research Institutes of the Academy of the Socialist Republic of Romania Offering Doctoral Programs, 1967 141 D.Bibliography 143 Tables 1.Number of students at various levels who are board- ing students or who take their meals in school canteens, 1950-51, 1955-56, and 1960-61 through 1968-69 23 2. Number of schools, pupils, and teachers in the day and evening sessions and correspondence courses, by level, 1938-39, 1948-49, 1950-51, 1955-56, and 1960-61 through 1968-69 38 3.Number of kindergartens, pupils, and kindergarten teachers, by county, 1968-69 46 4.Number of hours per week, per subject, in 10-year schools of general education, by grade, proposed for the 1969-70 academic year 54 5.Number of hours per week, per subject, in academic lyceums, by grade, 1968-69 57 6.Number of schools, students, graduates, and teachers in day and evening sessions and correspondence courses of schoolsof general education and academiclyceums,1938-39,1948-49,1950-51, 1955-56, and 1960-61 through 1968-69 63 7.Number of pupils in day and evening sessions and correspondence courses of schools of general edu- vi Page cation, by grade, sex, and urban or rural area, 1938-39, 1948-49, 1950-51, 1955-56, and 1960-61 through 1967-68 64 8.Number of schools, pupils, and teachers in day and evening sessions and correspondence courses of schools of general education and academic lyce- ums, by county, 1968-69 67 9.Number of schools, students, and teachers in day and evening sessions and correspondence courses of specialized lyceums, by type, 1966-67 through 1968-69 68 10. Number of schools, students, and teachers in day and evening sessions and correspondence courses of specialized lyceums, by county, 1968-69 69 11. Number of schools, students, graduates, and teachers in vocational education, by field of training, 1948-49, 1960-61, and 1968-69 78 12. Number of schools, students, and teachers in day and evening sessions of vocational education, by county, 1968-69 80 13. Number of schools, students, and teachers in day and evening sessions and correspondence courses of technical schools for technical personnel, post- secondary specialized schools, and schools for mas- ter craftsmen, by county, 1968-69 81 14.Number of students and faculties in day and evening sessions and correspondence courses of institu- tions of higher learning, by city, 1938-39, 1948-49, 1950-51, 1955-56, and 1960-6: through 1968-69 .