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Primary education and enrolment

Primary education is the first stage of compulsory education and its main objective is to create equal opportunities for all children, in order to achieve a balanced cognitive, emotional and psychomotor development, adapted to individual needs.

Primary education includes the preparatory class and grades I – IV,  the preparatory class  being the  first class in primary education.

For the child , the preparatory class is a period of adjustment to school life, which allows him to adapt well to the program, community and specific requirements of this diverse environment in terms of socio-emotional, intellectual and physical development. From a socio-emotional point of view, the preparatory class supports the child to gain confidence in their own strengths, to increase their self-esteem, initiative and desire for success.

As a support for intellectual development , the child is prepared to be able to communicate better, to make a constant intellectual effort, to benefit from numerous and diverse learning experiences.

For its psycho-physiological development , this class offers the conditions of a program adapted to the specifics of the age, in a stimulating environment.

Both after the preparatory class and after the first class, there is no notion of repetition. During this period, measures should be identified to prevent, compensate for inequities manifested in students from disadvantaged backgrounds at the beginning of schooling, early identification of learning difficulties and individualized intervention. The most effective strategy is continuous assessment and, depending on the results, immediate and personalized intervention during the school year, including through the School after School Program.

Children who have reached the age of 6 by the start of the school year are enrolled in the preparatory class. At the written request of parents, guardians or legal guardians, children up to the age of 6 may be enrolled in the preparatory class by the end of the calendar year, if their psychosomatic development is appropriate.

Other relevant information:

Regulatory framework: Package iconOM 4825_Alternative and Waldorf.zipPDF iconORDER_5571_2011_Regulament_alternative_educationale.pdf

If you plan you register your child in the pre-university level the main practices that you should be aware are the following:

➤students from third countries can be enrolled in pre-university education in Romania if one of the parents, guardians or legal supporters falls into one of the following situations: 

  • is repatriated;
  • has, by marriage, domicile in Romania;
  • is the holder of a residence permit in Romania;
  • carries out, in accordance with the legal provisions, activities on the Romanian territory;
  • is studying in state or private accredited university or postgraduate education in Romania. 

➤in compulsory education (until high school – 10th grade), foreign students/pupils benefit from schooling under the same conditions as Romanian citizens;

➤children who have reached the age of 6 by the start of the school year are enrolled in the preparatory class in accordance with the provisions of the National Education Law no. 1/2011. At the written request of parents, guardians or legal supporters, children who reach the age of 6 by the end of the calendar year may also be enrolled in the preparatory class, if their psychosomatic development is appropriate.

➤the student’s file have to be sent to the Ministry of Education – General Directorate for International Relations and European Affairs (DGRIAE), by the School Inspectorate in the area where the educational unit for which it operates and should contains the following documents:

  • Copies of the student’s identity documents and of the parents/guardian/legal supporter (student birth certificate, student passport, parents’ passport, student residence permit, parents’ residence permit, if possessed);
  • Copy and legalized translation of the student’s birth certificate;
  • Copy of the court decision regarding the custody of the minor child, as the case may be;
  • Copies and legalized translations of school situations;
  • Application for enrollment in studies, approved by the management of the educational unit to which enrollment will be made.

➤the registration is made by the approval issued by the Ministry of Education – General Directorate for International Relations and European Affairs (DGRIAE), based on the study documents from the personal file, without difference exams;

➤at the request of the parents/guardian, the student’s enrollment can be done in a class lower than the level of education resulting from the documents;

➤in upper secondary education (highschool grades 11 and 12/13), students from third countries pay tuition fees, in accordance with the provisions of Law no. 1/2010.

Attention: Those who, who want to enroll in pre-university education (except for primary education), pass the Romanian language test, following the examination by a commission composed of the school / high school principal and two Romanian language teachers who do not have to do a Romanian language preparatory year. 

Also, Persons who present Romanian study documents (diplomas and certificates) or study documents, school situations attesting at least four consecutive years of studies followed in a school unit from the Romanian national system are exempted from providing a proof of Romanian language.

Nota bene: The recognition and equivalence of studies made abroad is made by NRED that recognizes documents of pre-university studies obtained abroad by assessing and determining the level, main field of studies and/or specialization compared to the Romanian education system.

Following the assessment, CNRED can automatically recognise or by applying difference examinations or other compensatory measures, the level, field of study and/or specialisation. When applying difference examinations or other compensatory measures, CNRED collaborates with County School Inspectorates. This procedure applies both for enrolment to studies in Romania, as well as access to the labor market. 

More information about CNRED can be found here https://www.cnred.edu.ro/en/higher-education.