In short: in Romania, the large group and the middle group are part of compulsory education. The large group became compulsory in 2020, the middle group from the 2023–2024 school year. The small group is due to become compulsory by 2030. In practice, from age 4 kindergarten is no longer optional — the child must be enrolled and must attend.

Many parents in Cluj only discover this when they are asked for a certificate or when the conversation turns to enrolling in the preparatory class. Below is what it means concretely, without panic and without exaggeration.

From what age is kindergarten compulsory?

Preschool education was made compulsory in stages, not all at once:

GroupIndicative ageStatus
Small group3–4 yearsBecomes compulsory by 2030
Middle group4–5 yearsCompulsory from the 2023–2024 school year
Large group5–6 yearsCompulsory since 2020

The general framework comes from the Pre-University Education Law no. 198/2023, in force since September 2023, which defines early education as the level from 3 months to 6 years: pre-preschool education (3 months – 3 years, i.e. nursery) and preschool education (3–6 years, i.e. kindergarten).

Nursery is not compulsory. The pre-preschool level remains a family choice. If you are still weighing when to start, see our guide on what age for nursery and kindergarten.

What “compulsory” actually means

Three practical consequences for a parent in Cluj:

1. You must enrol your child. This is not a recommendation. Enrolment follows the annual calendar set by the Ministry of Education and applied through the Cluj County School Inspectorate. See the enrolment calendar and enrolling at a state kindergarten.

2. Attendance counts. As compulsory education, absences are recorded. The regime for excused and unexcused absences is set by the framework regulation on the organisation and functioning of education units (ROFUIP) and by each unit’s internal rules. In practice: medical absences are excused with a certificate, and repeated unexcused absences trigger discussions with the unit.

3. It matters at school entry. The preschool path is relevant for the transition to the preparatory class, especially for children who did not attend kindergarten. See our guide on moving from kindergarten to the preparatory class.

What happens if you don’t send your child?

Two things need separating here: the educational consequences (real and immediate) and the legal ones (exceptional).

Educational consequences

These are what matter for most families. Children who have not completed the compulsory groups can still be enrolled in school, but the situation is resolved through a development-level assessment carried out by CJRAE. In other words, missing kindergarten does not block access to school, but it adds an administrative step and an assessment.

There are also recognised justified situations — illness, lack of infrastructure in the locality, temporary residence abroad.

The law also provides a legal dimension, but it targets extreme situations, not ordinary absences:

  • Obstructing access to compulsory general education is sanctioned by the Criminal Code (art. 380).
  • Authorities can notify DGASPC (the child protection directorate) if a child is kept at home without justification.

It is worth saying honestly: these are instruments for cases of serious neglect or school abandonment, not for a parent with a few absences or late arrivals. If you have a special situation, discuss it with the unit early, in writing.

Common special cases in Cluj

The child turned 4 in November. Group placement follows the age reached by the start of the school year, under the annual methodology. Check the exact placement with the unit or with ISJ Cluj.

The family moves to Cluj mid-year. The obligation does not disappear, but enrolling outside the calendar has its own rules. See enrolling outside the school calendar.

The child attends a private kindergarten. The obligation concerns completing the level, not the type of unit. An authorised or accredited private kindergarten satisfies the requirement. See accredited vs. authorised.

The child lives in a commune but you want a kindergarten in the city. See Cluj or the neighbouring commune.

The child has special educational needs. The obligation remains, but the pathway is adapted. See enrolling a child with special educational needs.

Frequently asked questions

Is kindergarten compulsory in Romania? Partly. The large group has been compulsory since 2020 and the middle group since the 2023–2024 school year. The small group is due to become compulsory by 2030. Nursery (the pre-preschool level, 3 months – 3 years) is not compulsory.

From what age is kindergarten compulsory? In practice from age 4, with the middle group. From age 5, the large group has been compulsory for several years.

What happens if I don’t send my child to kindergarten? The child can still be enrolled in school, but usually through a development-level assessment carried out by CJRAE. In cases of serious neglect, the law also provides for notifying DGASPC and criminal sanctions for obstructing access to compulsory education.

Do kindergarten absences have to be excused? Yes. As compulsory education, absences are recorded, and medical ones are excused with a certificate. The concrete rules are in each unit’s internal regulations.

Is nursery compulsory? No. The pre-preschool level remains optional for the family.

Does a private kindergarten satisfy the requirement? Yes, if the unit is authorised or accredited. The obligation concerns completing the education level, not how the unit is funded.

Sources

Conclusion

“Kindergarten is compulsory from age 4” is accurate, but worth understanding with nuance: the obligation concerns enrolling in and attending the middle and large groups, and the most common practical consequence is not a fine but an extra assessment step at school entry.

If you are only now looking for the right unit, use the piticluj.ro interactive map to see the kindergartens in your neighbourhood. See also our data sources.