Educational Policies on Initial Training for the Teaching Career in Romania

Abstract

The aim of this article is to review the main characteristics of the initial training of teaching professionals in Romania, as provided within the educational policy legislation. We consider it useful to make an overview of developments that have occurred in the recent past in the field of initial training currently performed within the departments of teacher education. In 1996, by order of the Minister of Education, the first teacher education departments were established. 2001 was an important year for the teaching professionals’ training field through the initiation of the Development Strategy for the Initial and Continuous Training of Teaching Professionals and Managers from the Primary and Secondary Education System, for 2001- 2004. The Bologna process has generated a new context for the initial training of the teaching professionals, through structural and curricular reorganization of the Romanian tertiary education, new measures applying starting with the academic year 2005-2006. Within this context, the initial training programs for the teachers working in the secondary and tertiary education, offered by the Departments of Teacher Education of Romanian universities, were reorganized into two modules. In 2008, through the joint effort of the specialists in educational sciences and representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Order of Minister no. 4316/2008 on the Approval of the studies program was elaborated for the procurement of the Certificate of Graduation of the Department of Teacher Education. The Law of National Education no. 1/2011 stipulates that the initial training to qualify for teaching positions shall consist of: initial, theoretical, specialized training, performed within universities under accredited programs in compliance with the law; Master of Education Programs, with a duration of 2 years; induction (probationary) teaching period with duration of 1 school year, performed at an educational institution under the supervision of a teacher-mentor. A new wave of changes in the area of teaching professionals initial training is therefore expected. The Law of National Education no. 1/2011 provides that the induction teaching period is part of the initial training. The national tenure examination is organized by the Ministry of Education in compliance with a methodology approved through order of the Minister of Education.