Homeschooling in Romania

Just like any other type of schooling, homeschooling is an international endeavor. Millions of families around the world have made the decision to take their child’s education into their own hands, especially during and in the wake of COVID-19. And, like the United States, every country has its own opinions, philosophies, and laws surrounding homeschooling.

In this monthly series, we’ll take a look at different countries around the world and how they view homeschooling as well as the types of laws (if any) those countries have to govern homeschooling. The first country we visited was the second-largest country in the world, and the northern neighbor to the United States–Canada. Then we went island hopping to the Philippines and Puerto Rico before cruising on over to South Africa. We headed back to the Caribbean to the Dominican Republic, traveled all the way to Thailand, made our way back to Mexico, and then journeyed to the Middle East to explore homeschooling in Qatar and Saudi Arabia! After our first venture into Europe to look at Spain, we headed to Asia to look at homeschooling in India. Then we headed west to the United Kingdom, back east to China. And now we’ll jump back to Europe to examine homeschooling in Romania!

Romania is an often-overlooked European country that offers quite a bit of history and a somewhat-troubled present. Some interesting facts about Romania include:

• At nearly 20 million people, Romania ranks number 64 in world population.
• However, Romania’s population has seen a steep decline since its peak of nearly 24.5 million in 1990. Many Romanian citizens have fled the country due to poverty and corruption, and the country’s population is predicted to maintain its decline in the coming years.
• Size-wise, Romania covers over 92,000 square miles, though its population density remains low, ranking 96th in the world.
• The city of Timisoara was the first in all of Europe to use electric street lights.
• Romania is home to the world’s heaviest building–the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, which uses 700,000 tons of steel and bronze, one million square feet of marble, 3,500 tons of crystal, and 900,000 square meters of wood. The Palace of Parliament is also the second-largest administrative building in the world, behind only the Pentagon.
• Oddly, Romania is the birthplace of a handful of very famous Hollywood stars. Among the actors born in Romania are Dustin Hoffman, Edward G. Robinson, Johnny Weismuller, and Harvey Keitel.
• In 1986, Romania became the first Communist country to win the prestigious European Champions Cup title in soccer.
• Bucharest, Romania’s capital city, is by far the largest in the country. At over 1.76 million people, Bucharest has nearly five times as many people as the next most populous city in Romania.
• Romania was a Communist country until the Romanian Revolution of 1989.
• Romanian gymnast Nadia Comeneci earned the first-ever perfect 10 score in the Olympic Games for her performance on the uneven bars in Montreal in 1976.
• The Romanian language is around 1,700 years old.
• Bucharest is often called “Little Paris”; one reason is because there is an identical replica of Paris’ famous Arc de Triomphe located in Romania’s capital.

Rules and Requirements for Homeschooling in Romania

Homeschooling is technically legal in Romania (in the sense that it’s not technically illegal) and has been since 2002, when it was included in Romanian Educational Law at the request of the Romanian Homeschooling Association. However, homeschooling is only legal for those children who are unable to attend school and is more “tolerated” than explicitly legal.

According to the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), the Romanian Homeschooling Association nearly overturned that restrictive law in 2010, but the national government, including the Ministry of Education, unlawfully blocked that amendment.

The Romanian Constitution upholds:

• The freedom of conscience, manifested in the form of freedom of thought and opinion which includes the corollary that no one can be compelled to adopt an opinion or adhere to a religious belief contrary to his beliefs (Article 29 (1)).
• The principle according to which parents or guardians have the right to ensure, according to their own beliefs, the education of minors under their responsibility (Article 29 (6)).
• The freedom of the person to develop his/her spirituality and to get access to the values of national and universal culture (Article 33 (2)).

National Education Law no. 1/2011 also provides guidelines for education requirements:

• Art. 21 par. (3): “The States guarantee the right to differentiated education based on educational pluralism, in accordance with age and individual peculiarities.”
• Art. 59 established the principle according to which: “Educational alternatives may be initiated and organized in the pre-university education system.”

Parents can avoid all of the roadblocks to homeschooling in Romania by enrolling their children in schools outside Romania (many opt for umbrella schools in the US or UK), as they still have the freedom to choose a foreign school as well as teach and evaluate their children. The only expectation of the educational authorities toward parents is to present a certificate of enrollment upon their request.

The recognition of their education is straightforward: if children are enrolled in an accredited umbrella school, their studies are immediately recognized by the state. If the school is not accredited, their certificates are accepted after taking a national or international standardized exam, which can include the American GED. Despite these opportunities, the Romanian Homeschooling Association continues to lobby for the full legalization of homeschooling in Romania.

If you live in Romania or are planning on moving there, and you’re interested in homeschooling, the Romanian Homeschooling Association can help provide support, answer your questions, and assist you along the way.

Much like many of the other countries we’ve profiled, there is certainly no shortage of field trip or educational adventure ideas in Romania! Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, the underground theme park and museum in the Turda Salt Mine, the Merry Cemetery, the Danube Delta, and the many attractions in Bucharest offer a look into the history, tradition, and culture of Romania.

Romania’s School System

The education system in Romania consists of primary school (grades 1 through 4), middle/lower secondary school (grades 5 through 10), and secondary/upper secondary school (grades 11 through 13) in addition to vocational education as well as tertiary (university) education.

The high school experience in Romania is quite different from what we’re accustomed to in America. For example, student admission to high schools in Romania is based on test scores that determine where each child will attend high school. These exams are administered by the Ministry of Romanian Education and Research, and performance dictates the next stage of a high school student’s education.

Additionally, Romania’s high schools are baked on specialty. Students (depending on their exam scores) can decide whether to attend an arts-based high school or a science-based school. They can also choose from military academies, economic schools, or professional schools.

The website Romaniaeducation.info provides a thorough breakdown on each stage of the education system in the country.

Compared to other countries around the world, Romania ranks #43 out of 87 countries according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Countries for Education research, which places the country well below average. And the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Education GPS, which uses the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to assess the reading, science, and math skills of 15-year-old students every three years, reported these statistics for Romania’s students:

• In reading, students in Romania averaged a 428 score, well below the OECD country mean of 487.
• In math, students in Romania scored 430, significantly lower than the OECD country mean (489).
• In science, students in Romania scored 63 points below (426) the OECD country mean (489).

These numbers may paint a clear picture as to why families in Romania may choose to homeschool, but there are other factors as well. More than one-third of Romanian students report being bullied at least a few times per month–11% higher than the OECD country average. Plus, some Romanian families simply want more control over their child’s education.

Bridgeway in Romania

Bridgeway Academy is ready to be the homeschool partner for students and families in Romania. In fact, we currently have around 20 families in Romania homeschooling with Bridgeway Academy! If you’re currently living in Romania or are planning on moving there, remember that Bridgeway offers plenty of amazing homeschool programs–plus accreditation, record-keeping, and support–that can be used anywhere in the world! And, don’t forget to look up fellow Bridgeway families–it’s a community that can be found in nearly two dozen countries across the globe, and the Bridgeway community is a strong one.

Download our free PDF about homeschooling with a U.S. based program and then contact our admissions team today at (800) 863-1474 to start your homeschool adventure. Stay tuned–we’ll be bringing you homeschooling info from another international location soon!