Romanian Parliament debates high school admission exam rules

The Romanian Parliament is debating whether to maintain, repeal, or postpone a 2023 provision that allows certain high schools and specializations to organize separate admission exams for up to 50% of their places. Interim Education Minister Mihai Dimian has urged lawmakers to provide urgent clarification to ensure predictability for students and families.

Dimian warned that unless the legislature includes an explicit derogation from Article 10, paragraph (2) of the Pre-university Education Law, any changes will not take effect until the 2027-2028 school year. Without such a clause, the current law remains in force, meaning separate admissions could occur as early as the 2026-2027 school year. Until a decision is finalized, the Ministry of Education is legally obligated to prepare the methodology and calendar based on existing regulations.

If the separate exams proceed, the Ministry is developing strict transparency measures, including audio-video surveillance, digitized evaluation, and protocols to prevent conflicts of interest. Some officials, including state counselor Luciana Antoci, have cautioned that while the exams aim to provide a second chance for students, they must be implemented carefully to avoid exacerbating existing educational inequalities.