Safeguarding international schools in Romania: country guide

The Ministry of Education runs school education in Romania under Law 198/2023. The quality agency for schools (ARACIP) assesses and registers private schools and schools with a foreign course.

Schools that teach a British, American or IB course must join a special register. They report regularly to ARACIP and to the county school inspectorate.

International schools in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara often add COBIS, BSO, CIS or NEASC approval. Read how COBIS and BSO safeguarding standards pair with Romanian law.

Yes. Law 272/2004 on the rights of the child bans all physical, emotional and sexual violence against children. It also bans neglect, exploitation and physical punishment, at home and at school.

Under Articles 91 and 96, any staff member who works with children and suspects abuse or neglect must act at once. They must tell the General Directorate for Social Assistance and Child Protection, known as DGASPC.

Each county, and each of Bucharest's six sectors, has its own DGASPC with a 24-hour team. If the harm may be a crime, staff must also tell the police or prosecutor.

Schools must also follow the national anti-violence steps set by Ministry Order 6235/2023. These cover harm between pupils and abuse by staff. See mandatory reporting laws for international schools for a wider view.

If a child is in danger now, call 112. For suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence or exploitation, Romania has its own national number, 119. It goes straight to the local DGASPC team.

Follow your school steps and tell your designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and Head the same day.

• 112: the national emergency number for police, ambulance and fire (STS).
• 119: the 24-hour national line for reporting child abuse and neglect, answered by DGASPC staff.
• 116 111: Telefonul Copilului, a free, private helpline for children and parents.
• Your local DGASPC: keep its direct phone number and email in your policy.
• Your DSL: tell them the same day, so the school logs the referral.

Schools must collect two police documents before any adult starts work with children. A standard record check on its own is not enough.

First comes the standard criminal record certificate, the Cazier judiciar. Second, Law 118/2019 requires a Behavioural Integrity Certificate for every school and child-facing body.

Old crimes can drop off the standard certificate over time. The integrity certificate shows entries in the national sex offender register for life. Both are available from county police or online.

Law 198/2023 also requires regular health checks for school staff. For staff from abroad, collect record checks from every past country, call referees and log each check on your Single Central Record. Read safer recruitment for international schools.

Romania applies the EU GDPR and Law 190/2018. The national data authority (ANSPDCP) supervises both.

Romanian law requires schools to check staff and report cases to DGASPC and the police. So your legal basis for these records is a legal duty under GDPR.

Store referrals and integrity certificates safely, apart from general pupil files. Limit access to your DSL, Head and a vetted HR lead.

Many international schools model their handbook on England's KCSIE or CIS rules (see KCSIE for international schools). In Romania, your policy must also include the school anti-violence plan required by Order 6235/2023 and county support teams.

That plan names a school anti-violence group, sets clear risk levels and tracks harm between pupils as well as abuse by adults. Each incident follows set recording steps and clear follow-up with families and county teams when needed.

Train Romanian support, bus, security and dining staff in Romanian so every adult can act on day one. Clear local terms also help bilingual staff speak quickly with DGASPC or police. Read why localised staff training matters.

This guide gives general information checked on 10 November 2026. It is not legal advice. Work through these steps in your first term with your Head and a Romanian lawyer.

• Check your SCR: every adult needs both certificates on file, plus police checks from abroad.
• Save 119 and the contact details of your local DGASPC in your policy.
• Match your safeguarding and anti-bullying rules to Law 272/2004 and Order 6235/2023.
• Make sure a fluent Romanian speaker on the team can talk with DGASPC, the police and inspectors.
• Post 119, 116 111 and 112 in Romanian and English around the school.