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17.12.2007

STAKES helped develop Romanian legislation on child day care

There is an obvious need for developing child day-care and early childhood education and care (ECEC) services and related legislation in Romania. Under the guidance of experts from International Development Collaboration (IDC) at STAKES, a new legislative act guiding child day-care and ECEC has been drafted in the country.

The drafting process was based on a needs analysis implemented for example through visits in provinces in different parts of Romania and numerous discussions with experts and stakeholder groups. The aim was to obtain as realistic a picture as possible of the kind and quantity of services needed.

The Romanian system of public ECEC services is fragmented, being divided into care and teaching. The wide range of child care arranged by families themselves, which currently prevails, is not regulated by any legislation. Legislation covers pre-primary education of 3–7-year-olds at child day-care centres and, as of August of this year, crèche activities for under-threes. In addition, Romanian child welfare legislation guides day-care services specifically targeted at risk families.

The development of legislation drew on both Romanian goals and those of the European Union. The draft legislative act emphasises a holistic perspective where child day care is seen to have important ECEC tasks and respond to the need for preventive approaches in the area of child welfare. Further, the legislative act aims to develop the service delivery system for example by creating a model of family day care and open community-based services.

The project was a Twinning Light project funded by the European Union. IDC at STAKES has participated in the EU Twinning programmes since 2001. Twinning is inter-administrative co-operation where the authorities of old Member States help new Member States develop their administration and legislation. The project partners were STAKES from Finland and the NAPCR (National Authority for the Promotion of Child’s Rights) from Romania.

Additional information:
Päivi Lindberg, Project Manager, Early Childhood Education and Care group at STAKES, gsm: +358 50 323 5487, paivi.lindberg(at)stakes.fi
Anne Rissanen, Communications Officer, International Development Collaboration at STAKES, tel.+358 9 3967 2639, anne.rissanen(at)stakes.fi

http://idc.stakes.fi