The findings come from the “Back to School 2025” sociological study conducted by the independent research agency MKOR. “In 2025, returning to school is no longer just about the shopping cart. Parents clearly tell us: the emotional safety of children matters more than the schoolbag’s price tag,” says Cori Cimpoca, founder of MKOR.
The study shows that mothers are more worried about bullying (46%) than fathers (31%), with concerns highest among parents of preschoolers (51%). In Bucharest and Ilfov, 44% of parents share this fear. Parents with higher education also rank the quality of the school curriculum high on their list of concerns (31%).
Back-to-school budget
Parents spend an average of 450 lei (around 100 euros) at the start of the school year, but the amounts differ widely: 660 lei in private schools compared with 430 lei in public schools. Regionally, the average reaches 590 lei in the West and drops to 330 lei in the South. Clothing dominates the shopping list, with families spending an average of 570 lei, nearly double the 300 lei spent on school supplies.
Tutoring becomes the norm
The study also highlights the mainstreaming of private tutoring: 44% of parents invest in additional lessons, spending around 100 lei per session. Mathematics leads the demand (92%), followed by Romanian (59%) and foreign languages (33%).
Access to tutoring, however, remains unequal: 58% of high-income families and 51% of parents with higher education use it, compared with only 34% of low-income families and 13% of parents with general education.