Oradea and its Confessional Schools in the 20th Century
Oradea and its Confessional Schools in the 20th Century

Summary/Abstract: In the former half of the 20th century, more accurately until 1948, Oradea was one of the towns with a high number of confessional schools. In 1938, there were 12 confessional elementary schools and six kindergartens. In 1948, according to the decree nationalising the buildings and goods belonging to confessional schools, out of the 109 confessional schools in the Bihor County, 29 were in Oradea. The areas for education were made up of buildings, courtyards, gardens, farms, agricultural lands, pastures, vineyards that were altogether invaluable. The teaching staffs at confessional schools were appointed by the County School Inspectorate at the proposal of the confession representatives, who had the freedom to choose. The pupils attending confessional schools usually belonged to the confession supporting the school. However, there were pupils belonging to other confessions as well. The pupils had to take an exam at the end of the year in order to pass the grade. Upon graduation from elementary school, pupils took a final exam in front of a commission made up of three schoolmasters from state schools; one of the schoolmasters in the commission had to be able to speak the language of teaching. Confessional schools had their own income from confession taxes, leases, land rentals and enrolment fees paid by the pupils. It usually covered teachers’ wages and other expenses, such as maintenance and administration of the school, insurances, social assistance for pupils, pension funds for schoolmasters. Another part of the money came from state budget. The establishment of “people’s democracy” on the 30th of December 1947 was followed by measures concerning the restructuring of the whole educational system starting with nationalisation of confessional and private schools. After the hiatus under the communist regime, theological educational institutions took up their activity again after 1990. Nowadays, in Oradea there is a Roman-Catholic theological secondary school, a Greek-Catholic theological seminary, a Protestant theological secondary school, a Baptist theological secondary school, a Pentecostal theological secondary school, and an Orthodox theological secondary school.

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