Comenius Regio Project 2011-2013

Voluntary Service for a Better Life

Overview of Educational System

Compulsory and free (including text books) from 6/7 to 16. The last two high school grades are not compulsory. Private schools tuition The Ministry of Education Research and Youth is in charge of the whole system Important decisions are made by school board or local authorities Money comes from the Ministry through regional or local authorities Inclusion of special needs students

Types/Levels of Schools

3 to 6 kindergarten 6 to 10/11 primary school, 10/11 to 14/15 middle school/gymnasium, 14/15 to 18/19 high school (some of them are colleges they have grades 5 to 8, too and their students have got excellent academic results), vocational school State and private faculties (3 years for graduation, 2 years for MA, other programmes depending on the specialisation)

Romanian language and Mathematics exams at the end of the 4-th grade
Special Romanian, Maths, and a foreign language exams for students who want to attend a national college (from the 5-th grade on) Final national Romanian, Maths, History/Geography tests for the 7-th and 8-th graders. The grades are taken into consideration at the high school admission. Theoretical, vocational (arts, sports, seminary), and industrial jobs training high schools High school-leaving written exams (2 compulsory and 2 elective subject matters) plus 2 oral tests (Romanian and a foreign language).

Special Needs Students

Students with various types of disabilities attend the same mainstream school, but they used to be placed in special institutions Lack of well trained personnel (a special education educator/teacher assist these students with their daily studying needs) and money Specialized NGOs help children and families with reintegration and leisure time activities

Transport to School

Public transportation - the monthly pass is covered by school On foot Parents School bus in some remote villages in the mountains

School Year

2 semesters (written tests on subjects at the end of each semester) 870 teaching hours in middle school-gymnasium 960 teaching hours in high school

Parental Involvement

Parents have full access to students school records an grades Parents talk to the form teacher in order to explain why their children skip some lessons (they submit medical papers etc.) 2, 3 or more form teacher-parents meetings per semester At least 1 meeting school principal parent committee per semester

The president of the parent committee participates in each school board meeting
(once per month). Each school may decide the amount of money expected from a family (there is a general school trust), but contributions are not compulsory and they do not influence student-school relationship. The general trend is to set up an NGO of parents in order to get 2% of the teachers salary (there is a law saying that any individual may send 2% of his/her salary to an NGO). The fund is fully managed by parents.

Class Divisions and Number of Students

25 30 students with their form/class teacher (they meet once per week) Students in one form follow the same schedule decided by the respective school based on the national curricula endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Research and Youth.

Classes are labeled I A, I B,, X A, XB,. Class book to record lessons, grades and attendance.

Secondary Schedules

3 15 subjects for middle school students, 16 23 subjects for high school students There are 7 curricular areas: language and communication; maths and natural sciences; human being and society; arts; physical education; technologies; counseling and guidance

All subjects are taught the whole school year (both semesters). Classes vary day to day Students stay in the same classroom for all subject matters, in general (there are some IT, Chemistry, Physics etc. labs) and teachers change rooms. Students enrolled in intensive language studies are split into smaller groups for foreign languages classes.

Absences, Late arrivals/Tardies

The form teacher is in charge of keeping track of absences and excuses. Late arrivals/Tardies are marked in the class book, their cumulated number is important and can influence the evaluation of behaviour, but not the academic grade.

A student may have 9 absences without medical excuse. Over this number, students have to submit medical papers signed and sealed within 5 days.

Tracking based on ability/Curriculum

The abilities are not criterion to place students into classes. Students stay with a class regardless of their progress.

Daily Schedules

The school goes from the 15-th of September to the 15-th of June. Classes begin at 8 a.m. and last until 12/13 for primary level and 14/15 for high school. In general, gymnasium/middle school lessons start at 12/13 and last until 18/20. It is the afternoon shift that comes after the morning primary level.

Lessons are 50 minutes long. Students go home after school or attend extracurricular activities at other institutions or in their own school.

Campus, size and order

500 1200 students in a high school (up to 1000 in general) Many schools have guards who check students at the entrance in the morning and on the corridors during the school programme. There are 2-3 teachers and 2 3 students on duty every day. They observe the corridors, sport fields etc. and meet the visitors. Students may go to the bathroom any time (no Pass needed to leave the classroom at any time).

Snacks and beverages can be bought at kiosks in school yard.

The Ministry of Health issued a list of prohibited items (too salty, too fat, and too sweet). Drinks are usually permitted, but not food in the lesson. Students have their ID cards but do not have to wear them. No school nurse, in general. High schools with over 1000 students have a medical consulting room. Some schools have dental surgery. Big schools have a psychologist. All students can get this kind of assistance by going to advising rooms in other schools.

Dress Code

Some schools have uniforms decided by students and parents. High schools ask their students to wear small things (ties, labels, vests) with their logo/symbol.

Greetings, addressing people, relationship.

Teachers are called professors at high school. Students greet their teachers by standing when a teacher enters the room.

Work or Study?

Some students have paid summer jobs. Most students living in the country side substantively help their parents with the house and farm work. Students do not have part time jobs.

Extracurricular Activities (Clubs)

Extracurricular activities are carried out in schools and in other institutions (e.g. NGOs). These are activities are free of charge, in general. More and more students volunteer for various duties and they look for opportunities to perform practical activities.

Sports

2 physical education lessons per week Different tournaments are organized at school. Students may miss classes when they train and participate in these activities.

Other events

Different events are organized in the afternoon, in the evening and over weekends. Sometimes these activities are undertaken during classes (special speakers, presenting certain projects or offers available in that community etc.). Exhibitions, charity events, theatre performances, concerts, competitions (both academic and artistic), language courses, exchange/twinning programmes (in some regions of Romania ),

sightseeing trips.

Most high schools celebrate the school days (when the school was founded or the birthday of that schools spiritual patron etc.) by organizing various artistic performances or other meetings.

Grades


Grades go from 1 to 10; 10 is the best, 4 means fail. An average grade is counted and registered from all the grades at the end of each term. Written feedback is given by primary school teachers much more than by high school teachers. Schools do not have a severe policy against cheating and plagiarism. When these phenomena occur related to important exams, the sanctions are more severe.

Important Exams


Entrance exams (see Types/Levels of School) End-term written test (4 mandatory subject matters depending on the specialization) Several written papers during each term National written tests for the 7-th and 8-th graders (see Types/Levels of School) High school-leaving exams in 4 subject matters. University entrance exams vary from high school record and interview to written tests.

Ceremonies/Celebrations

The first bell the first graders. Graduation ball at the end of the 4-th, 8-th and 12-th grades. Freshmen ball at the commence of the 9-th grade. Turning 18 a ball for students in grade 12, in general. Spring etc. ball, schools days.

Important certificates/Documents

Official grade reports (given to students) School-leaving certificates (at the end of the 10-th and the 12-th grades) or just attending certificates (when one has not passed the final exams)

Language certificates Awards certificates

Universities and Colleges

Bachelors (3 years) M.A. (2 more years) Medical school and architecture last for 6 years plus the M.A. State universities (free and paid) Many private faculties Scholarships (paid by state or private entities) in some faculties State exam and thesis Diploma at graduation