Author
The Asylum Act prescribes for the right of minor asylum applicants to have access to before pre-school (0-3 years), pre-school (3-6 years) and compulsory education (6-18 years) under the same conditions as minor Romanian citizens, as long as no measure is taken to remove them or their parents from Romania.[1] Access to education is therefore free and unconditional.[2]
Compulsory general education consists of 10 grades and includes primary and lower secondary education. Compulsory education ends at the age of 18.[3]
While asylum-seeking children theoretically have access to education on the same terms as Romanian children, practical barriers hinder their integration and learning experience. According to CNRR, these challenges include lack of funding, delayed school enrolment, and lack of trained teachers.[4]
In 2022, the adoption of new methodologies for diploma recognition, school enrolment, and Romanian language classes for refugees represented a step forward in improving access to education for asylum applicants. However, CNRR reports that the implementation of these measures has been inconsistent due to varied interpretations at the local level and insufficient communication from the Ministry of Education to the schools. [5]
Despite efforts to integrate minor asylum applicants into the education system, several challenges persist:[6]
- Language barrier – a major obstacle that affects both participation and understanding in class.
- Educational gaps – some minors arrive with significant educational gaps. For example, there are cases of illiterate 16-year-olds or minors who have only completed 2-3 grades. Due to their age, they cannot be placed in primary school but also lack the necessary knowledge for high school.
- Limited school and kindergarten places – public schools and kindergartens have limited availability, making it difficult to secure spots for asylum-seeking children.
- Legal requirements – the law stipulates that minor asylum applicants must enrol in a preparatory language course within three months of submitting their asylum application. However, practical implementation can be challenging due to institutional constraints and the availability of resources.
Save the Children has played an active role in assisting minor asylum applicants, providing school supplies, clothing, after-school activities for children accommodated in Regional Centres.[7]
For adult asylum applicants seeking to enrol in qualification courses, the most common obstacles include:[8]
- Language barriers – limited knowledge of Romanian restricts access to training programs.
- Educational prerequisites – many courses require a minimum education level (e.g., at least eight grades for some courses and a high school diploma for others).
- Lack of free vocational training: According to statements from asylum applicants, there are currently no free vocational training programs available to them.
In addition to challenges related to education, asylum applicants face significant barriers in accessing other socio-economic rights. CNRR highlights that procedures for accessing public health programs, health insurance, and social benefits (such as unemployment or child allowances) are characterized by complex bureaucratic procedures, making them difficult to navigate without assistance. Furthermore, public institutions are often not adapted to the specific needs of asylum applicants, and public servants may lack knowledge of relevant legislation, which can result in denial of rights and necessitate intervention by NGOs to ensure access to these entitlements. [9]
Preparatory classes
Following the 2015 reform, the Asylum Act foresees a free intensive preparatory course for asylum-seeking children in view of easing their access to education before the enrolment at the national education system.[10] The training course is organised by the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research, in collaboration with IGI-DAI. Children should be enrolled at the preparatory course within 3 months from the date their asylum application was made. At the same time, the child may be enrolled as an observer in the relevant year of study.
At the end of the preparatory course, an Evaluation Commission, whose composition and functioning are established by order of the Minister of National Education and Scientific Research assesses the level of knowledge of the Romanian language and establishes the registration of asylum applicants in the corresponding year of study.
In 2023, NGOs such as AIDRom[11] and Save the Children[12] have provided, within the regional centres, various education opportunities: Romanian language courses, support in access to the education system, but also access to extra-curricular activities. The NGOs also provided support to IGI-DAI in the procedure of enrolling minor asylum applicants in the preparatory course, and enrolling in the national education system. Save the Children highlighted that the Romanian authorities do not offer educational programs specially designed to meet the needs of this category of children. NGOs facilitate as much as possible the relationship with the schools/teaching staff/parents, offer additional support to the minor for school accommodation and language learning, subject recovery, etc. Within the project “Information, counselling and complex assistance for asylum applicants from the regional centres of the General Inspectorate for Immigration – OUTPUT 3, financed by UNHCR, there was also the activity of granting at least 48 educational packages for minors enrolled in preschool and school education. Unfortunately, the number of minors enrolled in the school for the 1-year intensive Romanian language course was very small. AIDRom managed to award only 7 packages (5 in the regional centre from Bucharest and 2 in the regional centre from Maramureș- Şomcuta Mare).
In 2024, Save the Children continued to provide support in the regional reception centres in Bucharest, Galați, Suceava, Maramureș, and Timișoara, focusing on accommodation and education assistance. By the end of 2024, the organisation had assisted 94 residents in these centres (Timișoara – 10; Bucharest – 16; Maramureș – 32; Suceava – 36), including asylum applicants, beneficiaries of protection, and persons whose asylum applications had been rejected. Additionally, Save the Children supported 153 asylum applicants living in private accommodation across the four counties. Regarding education, the NGO assisted 7 asylum-seeking children in accessing education: 4 children in Bucharest (2 girls, 2 boys, all enrolled in primary education) and 3 in Suceava (2 girls in lower secondary education and 1 boy in high school). No asylum-seeking children were assisted in accessing education in Maramureș or Timișoara during 2024.[13] According to information submitted by Save the Children Romania for the EUAA Asylum Report 2025, the organisation continued to provide counselling, material assistance, educational support and social services to asylum applicants and refugees, including children and their families.[14]
In 2024, minor asylum applicants were enrolled in schools and high schools near the Regional Centres, facilitating their integration into the education system. Initially, they attend classes as audience, meaning they participate in lessons without receiving grades. This process, supported by NGOs such as the Romanian National Council for Refugees (CNRR), Save the Children, and the ICAR Foundation, along with IGI staff, helps minors familiarize themselves with the Romanian language and the subjects taught in school. An identified problem is the limited places in public kindergartens and schools. The law stipulates that minor asylum applicants must enrol in the preparatory course within 3 months of the date of
submission of the asylum application. Save the Children organization was systematically involved, they provided supplies, clothes, proposed after-school activities with the children accommodated in the Center.[15] In 2025, minor asylum applicants continued to be enrolled in schools and high schools located near the Regional Centres, facilitating their integration into the education system. According to CNRR, one of the main challenges remains the limited availability of places in public kindergartens and schools, as well as language barriers. The legal requirement for enrolment in preparatory courses within 3 months from the lodging of the asylum application remained applicable. CNRR also stated that Save the Children was systematically involved in 2025, providing school supplies, clothing and proposing after-school activities for children accommodated in the Regional Centres.[16]
At the end of the academic year, these children undergo an assessment to evaluate their knowledge. Based on the results, their appropriate education level is determined, and they are placed in a corresponding class for the following school year.[17]
According to the Ombudsperson, asylum applicants accommodated in the Bucharest Regional Centre benefit from access to educational activities, including Romanian language courses and support for children’s enrolment in the national education system. Language courses are organised both within the centre and in cooperation with external actors, aiming to facilitate integration and access to education. Children are supported in enrolling in schools and kindergartens, including through material assistance and counselling provided by NGOs. In addition, various organisations implement educational and socio-cultural activities, including informal education, recreational activities and awareness sessions, contributing to the integration of both children and adults. These services are often delivered through projects funded through AMIF and implemented in cooperation with civil society organisations. [18]
Access to education for asylum applicants in 2025 continued to be ensured within the pre-university system, although practices varied across counties. According to information provided by the Galați County School Inspectorate, 155 asylum applicants were enrolled, of whom 120 attended as auditors and 35 were enrolled with full rights following evaluation. Enrolment of children without school documents was carried out in accordance with Article 125 of the Regulation on the organisation and functioning of pre-university education units (ROFUIP), as amended by Order no. 5763/2024. The Inspectorate noted that delays may occur where applicants have not completed the required Romanian language courses necessary for evaluation, in which case the process is continued in the following school year. Attendance was monitored, and withdrawals from language courses due to absences were recorded, but were not considered school dropout due to the auditor status of the pupils. No preparatory classes were organised for asylum applicants, as these are reserved for Romanian students returning from abroad.[19]
According to the Giurgiu County School Inspectorate, in 2025, asylum applicants were accommodated in the Regional Centre for Accommodation and Procedures for Asylum applicants in Giurgiu. In 2025, minor asylum applicants had access to Romanian language courses organised at the “Tudor Vianu” Theoretical High School in Giurgiu. Romanian language courses for adults were organised by NGOs.[20]
In Maramureș, Romanian language courses for foreign nationals were organised at the “Ioan Buteanu” Theoretical High School in Șomcuta Mare, accredited by the Ministry of Education and delivered by trained teachers. These were attended by both children and adults, including persons from Syria, Yemen and Tanzania. The main difficulties identified concerned language barriers and the limited availability of applicants to attend courses, due to factors such as location, transport and scheduling.[21]
According to the Timiș County School Inspectorate, no statistical data is collected on the number of asylum applicants enrolled in the pre-university education system. The enrolment of asylum applicants without school documents is carried out in accordance with Article 125 of the Regulation on the organisation and functioning of pre-university education units (ROFUIP), approved by Order no. 5726/2024. Enrolment may be delayed in practice where applicants do not hold residence documents issued by the immigration authorities. Asylum applicants attend Romanian language initiation courses organised throughout the school year, in accordance with applicable legislation, with a total of 74 participants enrolled in 2024–2025. The Inspectorate reported that sufficient teaching staff is available and that no difficulties were identified regarding the organisation or financing of these courses. School attendance is monitored by educational institutions in accordance with the legislation in force, while school dropout occurs mainly due to asylum applicants leaving the territory of Romania. According to the Inspectorate, the main difficulties in access to education are related to the pace of issuance of residence documents.[22]
[1] Article 17(1)(p) Asylum Act.
[2] Article 6(1) Asylum Decree.
[3] Article 16(1) and (2) Public Education Act.
[4] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here.
[5] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here.
[6] Information provided by CNRR and JRS Romania (Galati) In February 2025.
[7] Information provided by CNRR in February 2025. Confirmed for 2026.
[8] Information provided by CNRR and JRS Romania (Galati) In February 2025.
[9] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here.
[10] Article 18(1)-(4) Asylum Act.
[11] Information provided by AIDRom, 15 January 2024.
[12] Information provided by Save the Children, 15 January 2024.
[13] ibid. March 2025.
[14] Save the Children Romania, Input to the EUAA Asylum Report 2025, 10 January 2025, available here.
[15] Information provided by CNRR and JRS Romania (Galati) In February 2025.
[16] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026.
[17] ibid.
[18] Visit Report in Reception Centre in Bucharest available here.
[19] Information provided by ISJ Galati, 16 March 2026.
[20] Information provided by ISJ Giurgiu, 03 March 2026.
[21] Information provided by ISJ Maramures, 03 March 2026.
[22] Information provided by ISJ Timis 26 February 2026.