THE SCHOOLING OF CRAIOVA

The setting up of the organized schooling in Craiova is related to the name of the son of the cup-bearer Constantin Obedeanu (1759), who renting the Obedeanu Monastery to the bishop of Ramnic, he expressed his desire "to find a teacher for the children instruction".

The schooling of Craiova was flourishing under Alexandru Ipsilanti, Constantin Ipsilanti and Ioan Voda Caragea who increased the subventions allocated to the Obedeanu School.

The schooling program put importance on the study of Greek and French, of arithmetic and Romanian language by 1821.

On October 1st 1825 the Ephors of Schools of Bucharest informed the caimacan of Craiova - Alexandru Ghica that the ruler Grigorie Dimitrie Ghica had decided to organize the schooling in Romanian in all the towns. In the spring of 1826, The National School of Romanian Language was set up in the building of the Obedeanu Church. It is, from the point of view of the age, the second middle degree school of the Romanian Principalities, after the Saint Sava School of Bucharest (set up in 1818).

The Obedeanu School discontinued its activity in 1830. Its new name was the Central School and it functioned between 1831-1842 in the building of the Madona Dudu Church, and between 1842-1895 in a building where is located today the Carol I National College; in 1895 it was moved in the present premises of the College.

The Public School for Girls, supported by the funds given by Iordache Otetelisanu and having its premises in the houses given by the cup-bearer Lazaro (this is the reason it was called Lazaro-Oteteliseanu Institute) was set up in 1835, and after 1864 it was called "The Central School for Girls" (The Institute for Girls).

In 1883, the Lazaro-Oteteliseanu Institute was called the Pedagogic Institute because there were coached (during 5 years) the future teachers for the primary schools.

The tradition of this place of culture is continued today by "Elena Cuza" Philology-History High School (the present premises were built between 1927-1935).

On November 1st, the first form of the Real Gymnasium was set up; this gymnasium became the "Fratii Buzesti" High School in 1901.

In 1870 the Preparatory School for Teachers (the present Pedagogic High School, was set up between 1888-1891), the School of Arts and Jobs (the great sculptor Constantin Brancusi studied here) and the "Gheorghe Chitu Trade High School" (the old premises house now the Faculty of Medicine).

At present, the schooling of Craiova is unfolded in 43 primary and gymnasium schools, 28 high schools with diverse structures, 18 vocational schools and 17 post-graduate high schools.

UNIVERSITARY SCHOOLS AND RESEARCH

The first faculty of Craiova, Faculty of Agronomy, was set up in April 17th 1948. Followed, the Institute of Electric Machines and Apparatus in 1951, the Pedagogic Institute for 3 years (with the faculties: philology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, science, history+geography) in 1959, and the Faculty of Horticulture in 1962.

The setting up of The University of Craiova was decided in 1966.

In 1974 the University of Craiova consisted of 7 faculties (the basic structures were: science, philology and history, economic science, medicine, electrotechnics, agriculture, horticulture); now there are 16 faculties whose courses are attended by Romanian and foreign students (during the university year 1995-1996 there were placed 15,447 students, from among which 862 were foreign students).

University Education:

· The Faculty of Science (physics, chemistry, biology)

· The Faculty of Physical Training

· The Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics

· The Faculty of Literature and History

· The Law Faculty "Nicolae Titulescu"

· The Faculty of Theology

Economical education:

· The Faculty of Economic Science

· Medical Education:

· The Faculty of General Medicine

· The Faculty of Stomatology

· The Faculty of Pharmaceutics

Technological Education:

· The Faculty of Automatics, Computers and Electronics

· The Faculty of Electrotechnics

· The Faculty of Electromechanics

· The Faculty of Mechanics

Agronomic Education:

· The Faculty of Horticulture

· The Faculty of Agriculture

The scientific research was supported by the university medium as well as by the setting up of the research institutes dedicated to diverse fields of activity: engineering of power machines and transformers, the industry of lignite, forest planning, designing and town planning, automatization and calculus techniques.

After December 1989, there were set up many cultural and professional scientific establishments that try, by their activity, to refresh the intellectual life of this region.

We recall the Omnia French Library Foundation (in the cultural field) and The Romanian Society for Optimization of energy consumption - SOCER

ESTABLISHMENTS OF CULTURE

There are many establishments of culture in Craiova. The National Theatre (set up in 1852 which is now well-known all over the world), the Punch and Judy Show (1956), the "Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra" (set up in 1947; host of some important national and international festivals), the "Lyrical Theatre" (1972, that became "Elena Theodorini" Opera and Operetta Theatre in 1996).

The libraries of Craiova are important elements of the cultural life of the town. The first public library of Craiova was set up in 1840. The most important libraries of the town are: the "Alexandru and Aristia Aman" County Library, the University Library, German Library and "Omnia" French Library.

Even if there had been many art antiquaries in Craiova, the first museum was set up in 1908. We can visit today many art exhibitions, history and archaeology exhibitions, ethnography exhibition, natural science exhibition etc.

The 7th art cinematography early penetrated in Craiova. We have to mention the fact that only 2 years after the first world cinema performance, achieved by Lumiere brothers in Paris, there were presented short movies in Craiova. The curiosity became interest and passion regarding this new art; so that in 1915, there were 5 cinemas in Craiova. Craiova gave to the world cinematography many genuine virtuosos that became starts: Jenny Holt (Ecaterina Vladescu Olt), Polla Illery (Paula Iliescu), Elisa la Porta (Eliza Strainul), the director Jean Negulescu (well-known at Hollywood).

IMPORTANT PERSONS

Here is a short list of the most important persons of this town: Petrache Poenaru (1799-1875), the founder of the national colleges of Bucharest and Craiova,

the leader of the schooling in Wallachia during 3 decades, the inventor of the fountain-pen;

the diplomat Nicolae Titulescu, the single diplomat who was twice elected in 1930 and 1931 the President of the United Nations League, member of the Romanian Academy, Honoris Causa Doctor of the Universities of Athena and Bratislava, President of International Diplomatic Academy;

the engineer Gogu Constantinescu, inventor, the creator of the science of sonicity;

the famous scientist Henri Coanda, inventor of the jet, the father of "the Coanda effect", important member of the Royal British Academy; mathematicians Gheorghe Titeica and Traian Lalescu;

the astronomer Nicolae Coculescu, the founder of the Astronomical Observatory of Bucharest, laureate of the Academy of Science of Paris;

the doctors Dimitrie Gerota, Demetru Paulian; the writers Alexandru Macedonski, Traian Demetrescu, Gib I. Mihaescu, Alexandru Mitru, Marin Sorescu;

the philosopher C.Radulescu-Motru the last president of the Romanian Academy; the sculptor Constantin Brancusi, famous artist;

the painters Theodor Aman, Constantin Lecca, Eustatiu Stoenescu, Ion Tuculescu;

the composer Ion Vasilescu;

the tenor Grigore Gabrielescu ...

From the works:

History of Craiova - "Scrisul Romanesc" Publishing House, 1977

Craiova, town guide - Florea Firan, Alexandru Firescu, "Sport-Turism" Publishing House, 1982