Romanian parents indicted for unauthorized homeschooling of three children

A couple from Bihor County, Romania, has been indicted by prosecutors for allegedly denying their three children access to compulsory education. The parents are accused of choosing an unauthorized form of homeschooling that is not legally recognized in Romania.

The case involves three children. The eldest daughter, born in 2011, was reportedly withdrawn from a middle school in November 2019. Prosecutors state that from November 15, 2019, to May 5, 2026, the parents prevented her from attending general compulsory education by enrolling her in an unrecognized homeschooling system.

Additionally, a second daughter, born in 2015, was never enrolled in any educational institution. According to the law, she should have begun compulsory preschool education at age five in the 2020-2021 school year, but this did not happen. A son, born in 2018, also faces a similar situation, allegedly not being enrolled in preschool education starting from the 2023-2024 school year, despite reaching the required age.

Following the indictment, the Prosecutor's Office at the Oradea Court of Appeal has requested the Beiuș Court to appoint guardians for the three minors to represent their interests throughout the criminal proceedings. The case has now been forwarded to the Beiuș Court for trial.