Age-Wise Education System in Romania (2025 Guide for Parents & Students)

Romania’s education system is a structured progression from early childhood to higher education, with compulsory stages spanning from preparatory classes through upper secondary education. Early childhood education is partly optional, though the final preschool year is mandatory. Primary and lower secondary levels (ages 6–14) are fully compulsory, concluding with the National Evaluation Exam. Upper secondary education (ages 15–18/19) offers various academic and vocational tracks and ends with the Baccalaureate exam.

Post-secondary vocational and tertiary education follow, though Romania faces low tertiary attainment and high dropout rates. Despite public education being largely free and recent reforms under laws 198/2023 and 199/2023 targeting curriculum flexibility and labor market alignment, challenges persist, including funding shortfalls, rural-urban disparities, and a high percentage of early school leavers.

The Romanian Education System: A Comprehensive Breakdown

Romania’s education system is meticulously structured to guide students through various developmental stages, from early childhood to advanced academic pursuits. Governed by a robust legal framework, including the Constitution and the recent School Education Law 198/2023 and Higher Education Law 199/2023, the system emphasizes equity, excellence, professionalism, flexibility, diversity, and transparency.

1. Early Childhood Education (0-6 years)

Early childhood education in Romania is not fully compulsory, but plays a crucial role in preparing children for formal schooling.

Creșă (Crèche/Nursery): Age 0-3 years

• 📌 This stage is not compulsory and primarily focuses on care and early stimulation.
• 📌 Both public and private institutions offer creche services. In public institutions, early childhood education and care is free of charge.
• 📌 In 2017, there were 351 nurseries in Romania, with 96.3% financed by public funds, serving approximately 18,719 children.
• 📌 The enrollment rate for children aged 2-3 years in early childhood education is around 70%.
• 📌 Historically, the creche system has often been medically oriented, with ongoing efforts to shift towards a more holistic development approach.

Grădiniță (Kindergarten/Preschool): Age 3-6 years

• 📌 Split into three groups: Small Group (3-4 years), Middle Group (4-5 years), and Big Group (5-6 years).
• 📌 While not mandatory in its entirety, the final year (Preparatory Group) became compulsory in 2012. This preparatory grade (Grade 0) has been assessed as having a positive impact on reducing dropout rates and disparities among students in the initial school years.
• 📌 In 2022, enrollment among children aged 3 to the starting age of compulsory primary education was 74.8%, a decline from 84.1% in 2013 and significantly below the EU average of 93.1%.
• 📌 Participation is notably lower for the Roma minority (27% in 2021) and in rural areas.
• 📌 Most kindergartens operate for 9-10 hours, even in rural areas, and approximately 66% of educators hold higher education degrees.

2. Primary Education (Învățământ Primar): Age 6-10 years

Primary education in Romania is compulsory and lays the foundation for all future learning.

Preparatory Grade (Clasa Pregătitoare): Age 6

This grade was integrated into compulsory education to smooth the transition to formal schooling.

Grades I to IV: Ages 7-10

Typically taught by a single teacher for all subjects.

The primary school cycle officially lasts 5 years according to UNESCO definitions, but the Romanian national definition includes the preparatory grade and grades I-IV, making it a 5-year cycle from age 6 to 10.

In 2022, the primary school completion rate was 82.86%, a decrease from 88.93% in 2021. This is below the world average of 92.43%.

The gross enrollment rate in primary education was 89% for both girls and boys in 2018, with a net enrollment rate of 87%. The primary completion rate was 92% in 2018, indicating that Romania has yet to achieve universal primary education.

In 2016, there were 939,000 pupils enrolled in primary education.

The repetition rate in primary education is higher in Grade 2, at 2.1%, compared to the overall primary average of 1.1%.

3. Lower Secondary Education (Gimnaziu): Age 11-14 years

Lower secondary education is also compulsory and marks a shift towards specialized subject teaching.

Grades V to VIII:-

Subjects are taught by different specialized teachers.

Lower secondary education lasts for 4 years.

It concludes with the National Evaluation Exam (Evaluarea Națională) at the end of 8th grade, which is crucial for progression to upper secondary education.

The gross enrollment rate in lower secondary education was 93% in 2018, with a student transition rate to secondary school of 100%.

In 2016, approximately 773,000 pupils were enrolled in lower secondary education.

Class sizes in lower secondary education average 18 students, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 26. For every student with Special Educational Needs (SEN) integrated into mainstream education, the maximum class size is reduced by 3.

4. Upper Secondary Education (Liceu): Age 15-18/19 years

Upper secondary education is compulsory until the age of 18 and offers diversified pathways.

Grades IX to XII/XIII

Full-time education typically lasts 4 years (Grades 9-12), while full-time evening classes and part-time education may extend to 5 years (Grades 9-13).

Students choose from different tracks:

• Theoretical: Sciences or Humanities.
• Technological: Technical, Services, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection profiles.
• Vocational: Military, Theological, Sports, Arts, and Pedagogical profiles.

The Baccalaureate Exam (Bacalaureat) is taken at the end of this stage and is required for university admission. The passing rate at the Baccalaureate exam has been increasing.

In 2016, there were 742,000 pupils enrolled in upper secondary education.

In December 2024, 80.20% of the population aged 25-64 in Romania had at least upper secondary educational attainment.

Recent reforms (School Education Law 198/2023) aim to avoid curriculum overload, give schools more say in optional subjects, and better prepare students for the labor market or further education. The common core curriculum in grades 9-10 covers 65% of subjects, decreasing to 35% in grades 11-12, while specialized curriculum increases from 25% to 45%.

5. Post-Secondary and Vocational Education (Age 18+)

Școli Postliceale (Post-secondary schools): 1-3 years

These schools cater to students who have completed high school, with or without the Baccalaureate exam.

Post-secondary non-tertiary education lasts between 1 and 3 years, depending on the complexity of qualifications and ECTS credits.

6. Higher Education (Universitate): Age 19+

Higher education in Romania follows the Bologna Process and is structured into three main cycles.

Bachelor’s Degree (Licență): 3-4 years

Typically comprises 180 to 240 ECTS credits. Engineering programs often last 4 years.

Master’s Degree (Masterat): 1-2 years

Requires 60 to 120 ECTS credits. Master’s programs can be professional, research-oriented, or didactic.

Doctorate (Doctorat): Typically 3 years

The highest level of academic qualification.

Romania has over one hundred public and private accredited universities.

In 2023, the proportion of people aged 25-34 with a tertiary degree fell to 22.5%, significantly below the EU average of 43.1% and the EU-level target of 45%. Romania consistently ranks last in the EU for the proportion of the adult population with higher education (19% of the 25-64 age group in 2023, compared to the EU average of 35%).

This low attainment is influenced by low participation, high dropout rates from university programs, and emigration of graduates.

Participation in higher education has been improving slightly; in the 2022/2023 academic year, 43% of those aged 19-23 were studying.

The share of international students in Romania rose to 7.4% in 2022.

Students enrolled in full-time accredited higher education institutions benefit from significant reductions (90%) on local, national, and railway transport, and 75% reductions for cultural and sports events.

Summary Table

The Romanian education system is undergoing continuous reforms aimed at improving quality, equity, and relevance to the labor market, while addressing challenges such as low tertiary attainment rates and disparities in access.

Funding and Challenges

Public education is largely free of charge. The state provides basic funding for preschool children and pupils in compulsory state, private, and accredited religious education based on a standard cost per pupil.

Romania’s public expenditure on education is relatively low compared to other EU countries. In 2022, it allocated 3.7% of its GDP to education, placing it second lowest in the EU, with Ireland being last at 3.1%. Similarly, education expenditure as a percentage of total public expenditure was 8.8%, among the lowest in the EU.

Funding for pre-university education comes from basic funding (state budget), complementary funding (local budgets for investments), and additional funding (own income, donations, sponsorships).

Challenges facing the Romanian education system include:

• Quality decline: A systemic problem, particularly in pre-university education, with quality and efficiency decreasing as education cycles progress.
• Mismatch with labor market: Curricula in higher education often do not align with current labor market demands.
• Brain drain: Many highly educated Romanians choose to study and work abroad. In 2020, close to 36,000 Romanian students were studying overseas, a significant increase from 2% in 2007 to 6.3% in 2025.
• Digital divide: Despite the push for digitalization, there are still areas in the country with limited internet access, hindering online education.
• Demographic crisis: Decreasing numbers of students pose a challenge to higher education institutions.
• Teacher shortages and low salaries: Particularly in rural areas, there are difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified teachers due to uncompetitive salaries.
• Equity gaps: Significant disparities exist in access and quality of education between urban and rural areas, and for disadvantaged groups like the Roma population.
• Functional literacy: Prioritizing functional literacy and improving PISA and TIMSS results are ongoing goals.

Ongoing Reforms and Policies

The “Educated Romania” project by the Presidential Administration (adopted July 2021) and the 2020-2024 Government Programme outline future projections, focusing on equity, excellence, professionalism, respect, flexibility, diversity, and transparency.

The Romanian government is implementing reforms based on the “Educated Romania” project and new education laws (School Education Law 198/2023 and Higher Education Law 199/2023), which came into effect in the 2023/2024 academic year. Key areas of reform include:

• Competence-focused curricular design: Emphasizing transversal competencies like health education, sustainability, democracy, financial and legal education.
• Inclusive education: Increasing access for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, reducing early school leaving, and promoting inclusive pedagogy.
• Professionalization of the teaching career: Reconsidering training systems for teachers, including initial training and ongoing professional development.
• Modernization of infrastructure: Projects like “Safer, Inclusive and Sustainable Schools” aim to rehabilitate and reinforce school buildings.
• Social programs: Including a hot meal program for preschoolers and students in public schools, student transportation reimbursement, and material support for children with special educational needs.

FAQs on Age-wise Education System in Romania

What age does compulsory education start in Romania?
Compulsory education in Romania begins at age 6 with the preparatory grade.

Is early childhood education mandatory in Romania?
No, early childhood education (ages 0–6) is not fully mandatory, but the final preschool year (age 5–6) became compulsory in 2012.

What are the main stages of education in Romania?
The main stages are early childhood, primary (Grades 0–4), lower secondary (Grades 5–8), upper secondary (Grades 9–12/13), post-secondary, and higher education.

What is the structure of primary education in Romania?
Primary education includes one preparatory year followed by Grades 1–4, typically taught by a single teacher, and is compulsory.

When do Romanian students take the National Evaluation Exam?
Students take the National Evaluation Exam at the end of Grade 8, which is essential for entering upper secondary education.

What types of tracks are offered in upper secondary education?
Upper secondary education offers theoretical, technological, and vocational tracks, culminating in the Baccalaureate exam.

Is the Baccalaureate exam required for university admission?
Yes, students must pass the Baccalaureate exam to gain admission to higher education institutions.

What is the typical duration of higher education in Romania?
A Bachelor’s degree takes 3–4 years, a Master’s 1–2 years, and a Doctorate usually 3 years.

How well does Romania perform in tertiary education attainment?
Romania has one of the lowest tertiary education attainment rates in the EU, with only 22.5% of people aged 25–34 holding a degree in 2023.

Are public schools in Romania free?
Yes, public education is largely free at all compulsory levels, including basic funding for state and accredited private institutions.

How much does Romania spend on education relative to GDP?
Despite a legal target of 6% of GDP, Romania spent only 3.6% on education in 2019, below the EU average of 4.7%.

What are the recent reforms in Romania’s education system?
Recent laws focus on reducing curriculum overload, enhancing school autonomy, and aligning education with labor market needs.

What challenges does the Romanian education system face?
Challenges include low higher education participation, dropout rates, funding shortfalls, rural-urban disparities, and demographic decline.

What is the enrollment rate for kindergarten in Romania?
In 2022, the enrollment rate for children aged 3 to the start of primary education was 74.8%, below the EU average of 93.1%.

What is the situation of Roma children’s participation in early education?
Roma children’s participation in early education is low, with only 27% enrolled in 2021.

How is special education handled in Romania’s schools?
For students with Special Educational Needs (SEN), class sizes are reduced, and integration into mainstream education is supported.

Is vocational education available after high school?
Yes, students can attend post-secondary vocational schools (Școli Postliceale) lasting 1–3 years, even without passing the Baccalaureate.

Are there benefits for university students in Romania?
Yes, students receive significant discounts on transport, cultural, and sports activities, including up to 90% off railway travel.

How does Romania align its higher education with European standards?
Romania follows the Bologna Process, using ECTS credits and structuring higher education into Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate cycles.

What is the Educated Romania project?
It is a national strategy focused on equity, excellence, professionalism, flexibility, and improving literacy and international assessment scores.