Romanian schools to teach the history of communism by 2025
Starting from the 2025–2026 academic year, "The History of Communism in Romania" will become a mandatory subject in Romanian schools.
It will be taught to 12th-grade students in day classes and 13th-grade students in evening or reduced-attendance programs. The introduction of this subject was announced on December 16, at the University of Bucharest’s Faculty of Letters Library, during an event commemorating 35 years since the 1989 Romanian Revolution.
The Ministry of Education revealed in a press release that the curriculum was developed by the National Center for Policies and Evaluation in Education, in accordance with the Pre-University Education Law 198/2023. It was created in collaboration with esteemed institutions, including the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile, as well as academic faculties of history.
The subject aims to offer students a comprehensive understanding of the communist regime’s unique characteristics, its economic policies, and its profound social and cultural impact on Romanian society. The curriculum is structured into 13 thematic areas, covering political systems, repression, opposition, international relations, economic practices, and the 1989 Revolution. It seeks to promote critical thinking and an understanding of how this era shaped individual rights, the economy, and society.
Minister of Education Ligia Deca stressed the importance of this initiative, citing the need to combat historical ignorance and manipulation. “Understanding the events of the communist era helps ensure that students appreciate the fragility of freedom and the dangers of indifference or complicity. This education fosters democratic values and strengthens our society against extremism and authoritarian tendencies,” she said.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
