Romanian private tutoring trends and taxation debate

The demand for private tutoring in Romania is evolving toward more specialized needs. Students and parents are increasingly seeking assistance with specific subjects, individual chapters, or exam preparation, such as the Baccalaureate. Mathematics and Romanian remain the most requested subjects, though there is rising interest in biology and chemistry for medical school admissions, as well as professional language certification.

This shift has led to the emergence of distinct consumer profiles, including middle school parents seeking flexibility and high school students searching independently. To meet these demands, there is a growing trend toward one-on-one sessions and small study groups of three to five students to allow for personalized feedback.

In response to the widespread reliance on these services, Education Minister Sorin Costreie has called for the taxation of private tutoring. He suggested that the necessity for mass tutoring indicates “significant systemic issues within the Romanian school system” and a failure to provide adequate remedial support in classrooms. Financial authorities have noted that tutoring income is already subject to existing tax laws, requiring providers to register with the Trade Register and declare income to tax authorities.