Protocol of collaboration signed between Romanian Patriarchate, Ministry of National Education and the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs

June 2014

On 29 May 201, the Romanian Patriarchate, Ministry of National Education and the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs concluded the Protocol on the teaching of Religion – Orthodox cult – in the pre-academic education and organisation of the pre-academic and academic Orthodox theological education.

The document was signed by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Mr Remus Pricopie, Minister of National Education, Mr Mihnea Cosmin Costoiu, Delegated Minister for High Education, Scientific Research and Technological Development, and by Mr Victor Opaschi, State Secretary for Religious Affairs.

The Protocol is based on the principle of the autonomy of the religious cults stipulated through the Romanian Constitution (article 29), the Bill on the freedom of conscience and religious freedom (489/2006) and the Statute for the Functioning and Organisation of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as through the principle of the academic autonomy stipulated in the Bill for National Education (1/2011).

The three institutions state the need to complete and update the similar protocols in force by including the experience acquired and the new legal stipulations for growing the quality of the educational process designed to form the personnel necessary to the Romanian Orthodox Church in various fields of activity (pastoral-liturgical, education, social assistance etc.)

The Protocol establishes the cooperation frame between the Romanian Patriarchate, Ministry for National Education and the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs concerning the public religious education (Orthodox cult), pre-academic and academic theological education in view of improving the quality of the educational process by assuming co-responsibility and competence typical to every signatory institution.

The Romanian Patriarchate appreciates the efforts of the Ministry of National Education concerning the growing of the quality of the Romanian education, promotion of competition and competitiveness from national and international point of view.

Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate

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