Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Romania, education funding is centrally managed but locally implemented. The Ministry of Education is the leading authority responsible for allocating the national education budget across all levels, from pre-primary to secondary. Funding is distributed using an annually set standard cost per student, ensuring resources follow each learner to their school. The per-student cost is calculated by multiplying baseline amounts by school-specific coefficients, including level, urban or rural location, isolation, low population, type of education, language of instruction (minority versus Romanian), and school size. This allocation covers salaries for teaching and non-teaching staff, school goods and services, student transport, textbooks, scholarships, competitions, and other social support measures.
Multiple sources support the state budget, VAT allocations, and locally generated revenues. While the Ministry controls the overall budget and sets national standards, County School Inspectorates and local authorities manage funds on the ground. They focus particularly on infrastructure, building maintenance, and complementary activities such as extracurricular programmes. Romania’s model blends strong central oversight with decentralised delivery, balancing consistent national standards with flexibility for local needs.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Basic education funding is approved each year through the state budget law. These funds are channelled to local authorities via the county and Bucharest public finance departments, with technical support from the county and Bucharest school inspectorates. The system does not appear to include specific funding mechanisms that account for equity considerations when transferring resources from central to local government.
2. Education resources to schools
School funding is calculated by multiplying the standard cost per student by school-specific coefficients and the number of pupils. This amount is approved each year by a government decision. As noted above, the per-student cost is calculated by multiplying baseline amounts by school-specific coefficients, including school level, geographic location (urban or rural), isolation, low population, type of education, language of instruction (minority versus Romanian), and school size.
The Project on Secondary Education (ROSE)
Between 2015 and 2024, the Ministry of Education implemented the World Bank-funded Secondary Education Project (ROSE) to reduce dropout rates in upper secondary and the first year of tertiary education, and to improve baccalaureate pass rates. Under ROSE, 874 grants were awarded to schools to support remedial teaching, counselling and guidance, coaching, personal and socio-emotional skills development, and extracurricular activities such as study visits, traineeships, competitions, and the creation of school networks.
Programul National pentru Reducerea Abandonului Scolar
Component 15 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) focuses on education reform and investment and is designed to address the high level of inequity within the educational system. It provides resources and funding directly supporting schools and educational services that target disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, particularly those in rural areas, those facing socio-economic disadvantages, and members of the Roma population. The resources provided are delivered through several key investments and reforms focusing on early education, preventing early school leaving, infrastructure improvements, and specialized training.
Motivated Teachers in Disadvantaged Schools
The Motivated Teachers in Disadvantaged Schools programme targets schools with high dropout risks and persistent challenges in attracting and retaining qualified staff. It aims to strengthen teaching quality in the most vulnerable educational settings by providing professional development opportunities, peer learning, and incentives for teachers to work in challenging environments. Activities include structured training programmes, exchanges of good practice, and certification schemes designed to improve teaching skills, classroom management, and support for disadvantaged learners. The initiative also seeks to foster a supportive professional community for educators in isolated or under-resourced areas, thereby improving both teacher retention and student outcomes.
The Euro 200 programme provides financial support to school and university students from low-income households to purchase computers, aiming to improve digital access and learning opportunities. Aid is allocated according to defined social criteria to ensure that assistance reaches those most in need.
3. Education resources to students and families
Social scholarships aim to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Eligible beneficiaries include households with an average monthly income per family member below 50% of the national minimum net wage, students with one or both parents deceased, students from single-parent families, students with disabilities, and students whose families receive the minimum inclusion income. For the 2024–2025 school year, the scholarship amount was set at RON 300 per month.
DECISION No. 657 of 19 September 1994 concerns the granting of scholarships, other forms of material support, and social assistance for Romanian students and pupils enrolled in state education, full-time courses, without tuition fees.
The School Supplies programme supports students in public full-time primary and lower secondary schools by providing grade-specific packages of school materials. Established in 2002 to encourage school attendance, the programme sets a maximum price for these supply packages, as defined by Order No. 3.783/03.03.2023.
Transportation for Students
Students who are unable to attend school in their home locality receive reimbursement for transportation costs between their residence and the school throughout the academic year. To simplify this process, Government Emergency Order No. 159/2022 introduced a lump-sum payment for student commuters.
The PNRR programme also included a project to finance the acquisition of electric school buses to help students from isolated or low-density areas attend school.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Family Allowance, established by Law 277/2010, is a means-tested programme that provides financial support to families with children whose monthly net income falls below a set threshold. Its purpose is to improve the care, education, and upbringing of children, while encouraging school attendance among school-age children in beneficiary families. Under the law, the allowance is reduced by 20% or 50%, depending on the number of unjustified absences during a school semester. If a student accumulates more than 20 unjustified absences, the allowance may be further adjusted. In 2023, the average monthly payment ranged from 90 to 512 lei, depending on family income, the number of children, and family type.
Venitul Minim de Incluziune (VMI)
Venitul Minim de Incluziune (VMI) is a broad social assistance benefit introduced in Romania to support low-income families and individuals facing economic hardship. It replaces previous forms of social aid and has two main components: a general inclusion allowance for those with incomes below a certain threshold and a supplementary allowance for families with children. For families with children, eligibility for the child allowance component is conditional on children’s continuous school attendance. The amount received depends on family composition and income, with requirements such as regular school participation designed to encourage educational inclusion and prevent poverty among children.
Tichete sociale pentru sprijin educațional programme
The Tichete sociale pentru sprijin educațional programme, established by Romania's Government Emergency Ordinance 133/2020, provides annual financial support to children from low-income families, including those attending kindergarten. Eligible families receive an electronic voucher worth 500 lei per child each year, which can be used exclusively to purchase school supplies and clothing necessary for school attendance. The initiative targets children in state preschool, primary, and lower secondary education whose families' incomes meet set criteria, aiming to reduce school dropout and promote equitable access to education. Distribution and monitoring are managed nationally and locally, with the program funded through national and EU sources.
5. School meal programmes
National Programme for “Healthy Meals” (PNMS)
The Hot Meals in Schools programme began as a pilot in 2016 and expanded to cover 450 public schools by the 2022–2023 school year. To ensure its continuation, the Ministry of Education launched the National Programme for Healthy Meals (PNMS) in 2024 through Government Decision no. 24/2024. The programme aims to reduce school dropout rates by providing students in pre-primary, primary, and secondary education with a hot meal or a food package when hot meals are not possible. Schools are selected based on geographic and socio-economic criteria, with the Ministry of Education leading implementation.
This profile was reviewed by Stefania Toma, Researcher, Romanian Institute for Research on National Minorities.
