How much does free education cost in Romania

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Compared to 2021, this is a 3,100 RON increase, reaching an average of 9,818 RON annually. The biggest cost increases are for tutoring (~3,700 RON) and after-school programs (~2,500 RON). Costs rise with the child’s age: 6,803 RON in primary school, 10,781 in lower secondary, and 12,119 in high school.

Key findings:

Families now spend 44% more per child annually than in 2021. Compared to 2018, hidden education costs have tripled.

24% of primary school parents report after-school expenses, averaging 6,781 RON/year—highest in Bucharest and lowest in rural areas.

62% of families cover these costs entirely; only 11% share them with institutions.

48% of parents mention tutoring costs. Incidence is highest in high school (66%) and lowest in primary (19%). Average cost: 6,234 RON/year.

Most tutoring is for math, foreign languages, and Romanian. STEM subjects appear mainly at the high school level.

Median monthly tutoring cost: ~1,000 RON, usually for two subjects.

25% of parents say tutoring forces them to delay essential spending.

In low-income households (under 5,000 RON), only 35% can afford tutoring, versus 65% in higher-income families.

Fewer parents now see school/classroom funds as mandatory compared to 2021 (class fund: 22% → 16%, school fund: 13% → 7%).

Save the Children Romania recommends:

A national system to monitor and support students at risk of dropping out.

Individual vulnerability tracking to guide educational support.

Substantial funding for remedial programs (especially after-school).

Scaling EU- and state-funded educational interventions for vulnerable children.

Curriculum reform, especially in upper secondary, to improve job-market relevance.

A new approach to national exams to reduce inequality.

Urgent revision of school curricula and teaching plans.

Align educational voucher distribution with the school calendar.

Expand access to recreational, cultural, and sports activities.

Implement school meal programs for all children to reduce dropout and inequality.

Also, 39% of Romanian children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Over 214,000 children aged 7–17 were out of school in early 2023; 33,882 had officially dropped out.

Romania spends only 13.3% of its GDP on education, far below the EU average of 19.4%.

16% of lower secondary and 25% of upper secondary students are outside the education system. Early school leaving reached 16.6%—a six-year high.