Dr. Viorica Preda has been a key architect of Romania’s transformation in early childhood education, guiding its evolution from a post-communist legacy to a forward-thinking, inclusive and progressive model recognized across Europe.
With over 45 years of experience in education, her career spans the full spectrum of roles: from 12 years as a preschool teacher, to 4 years as a kindergarten director and methodologist, and 2 years as a local inspector. Most notably, she served for 26 years (1998–2024) as the General Inspector for Early Childhood Education within the Romanian Ministry of Education — a position from which she helped shape national policy, curriculum reform, and the professionalization of early childhood educators.
Dr. Preda represented Romania in thematic working groups on Early Childhood Education and Care at the European Commission (2012–2014 and 2017–2021), contributing to key EU policy documents and exchanges of best practices.
Her doctoral thesis, “Early Childhood Education in Romania: A Catalyst for Equitable Access to Learning,” reflects her lifelong commitment to ensuring quality education for all children, regardless of background. She remains an active member of both the National Committee for Early Childhood Support and the National Commission for Preschool Education.