Organisation of the education system in Romania 2008/2009 RO European Commission EURYBASE ROMANIA 1. POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND AND TRENDS..................................................... 7 1.1. Historical Overview....................................................................................................... 7 1.2. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies.......................................................................... 8 1.2.1. Parliament ............................................................................................................ 8 1.2.2. Presidency ............................................................................................................ 9 1.2.3. Government ......................................................................................................... 9 1.2.4. Central Public Administration ............................................................................. 9 1.2.5. The Regional Public Administration.................................................................. 11 1.3. Religions ..................................................................................................................... 11 1.4. Official and Minority Languages ................................................................................ 12 1.5. Demographic Situation .............................................................................................. 14 1.6. Economic Situation .................................................................................................... 14 1.6.1. Economic Development .................................................................................... 14 1.7. Statistics ..................................................................................................................... 15 1.7.1. Demographic Data............................................................................................. 15 1.7.2. Economic Data ................................................................................................... 17 2. GENERAL ORGANISATION OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION ........... 18 2.1. Historical Overview..................................................................................................... 19 2.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments.............................................................. 22 2.3. Fundamental Principles and Basic Legislation............................................................ 24 2.4. General Structure and Defining Moments in Educational Guidance .......................... 28 2.5. Compulsory Education ............................................................................................... 32 2.6. General Administration .............................................................................................. 33 2.6.1. Textbooks and additional curriculum resources .............................................. 35 2.6.2. General Administration at National Level......................................................... 38 2.6.3. General Administration at Regional Level ........................................................ 41 2.6.4. General Administration at Local Level .............................................................. 43 2.6.5. Educational Institutions, Administration, Management .................................. 43 2.7. Internal and External Consultation............................................................................. 47 2.7.1. Internal Consultation ......................................................................................... 47 2.7.2. Consultation involving Players in Society at large............................................ 49 2.8. Methods of Financing Education................................................................................ 52 2.9. Statistics ..................................................................................................................... 57 3. PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION ...................................................................................................... 59 3.1. Historical Overview..................................................................................................... 60 3.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments.............................................................. 61 3.3. Specific Legislative Framework................................................................................... 62 3.4. General Objectives...................................................................................................... 65 3.5. Geographical Accessibility.......................................................................................... 67 3.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of Institution/Centre......................................... 68 3.7. Financial Support for Pupils' Families ......................................................................... 68 3.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Children.......................................................................... 69 3.9. Organisation of Time.................................................................................................. 69 3.9.1. Organisation of the School Year........................................................................ 70 3.9.2. Weekly and Daily Timetable .............................................................................. 71 3.10. Curriculum, Types of Activity, Number of Periods...................................................... 72 3.11. Teaching Methods and Materials ............................................................................. 73 1 EURYBASE ROMANIA 3.12. Evaluation of Children .............................................................................................. 74 3.13. Support Facilities ...................................................................................................... 75 3.14. Private Sector Provision ............................................................................................ 75 3.15. Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures .............................................. 77 3.16. Statistics ................................................................................................................... 77 4. PRIMARY EDUCATION............................................................................................................. 79 4.1. Historical Overview..................................................................................................... 80 4.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments.............................................................. 80 4.3. Specific Legislative Framework................................................................................... 81 4.4. General Objectives...................................................................................................... 84 4.5. Geographical Accessibility.......................................................................................... 88 4.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of School .......................................................... 88 4.7. Financial Support for Pupils' Families ......................................................................... 89 4.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Pupils.............................................................................. 90 4.9. Organisation of School Time ...................................................................................... 90 4.9.1. Organisation of the School Year........................................................................ 91 4.9.2. Weekly and Daily Timetable .............................................................................. 91 4.10. Curriculum, Subjects, Number of Periods.................................................................. 92 4.11. Teaching Methods and Materials ............................................................................. 96 4.12. Pupil Assessment ...................................................................................................... 98 4.13. Progression of Pupils................................................................................................. 99 4.14. Certification............................................................................................................ 101 4.15. Educational Counseling and Guidance................................................................... 102 4.16. Private Education ................................................................................................... 102 4.17. Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures ............................................ 104 4.18. Statistics ................................................................................................................. 104 5. SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY NON-TERTIARY EDUCATION................................................ 106 5.1. Historical Overview................................................................................................... 108 5.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments............................................................ 108 5.3. Specific Legislative Framework................................................................................. 109 5.4. General Objectives.................................................................................................... 119 5.4.1. Lower Secondary Education............................................................................ 119 5.4.2.