Romania school director competition faces scrutiny and investigation

The national competition for school director and deputy director positions in Romania has entered a complex phase following the second written examination on October 20, 2026. While many candidates across various counties, including Alba and Bistrița-Năsăud, achieved high scores, the process has faced significant challenges.

In Gorj County, police have opened a criminal investigation into potential fraud regarding the written exam. Authorities are conducting an ‘in rem’ investigation to document any criminal activity following reports of irregularities at a testing center in Târgu Jiu.

Minister of Education Sorin Costreie stated that the competition will proceed legally while undergoing rigorous analysis to address organizational errors and technical issues, such as time allocation and procedural ambiguities. He also noted a declining interest in leadership roles due to increased responsibilities without proportional salary increases.

Nationally, the Ministry of Education is considering a new competition session in January 2027 to fill remaining vacancies. Currently, over 4,600 candidates have passed the initial competency tests, with a final promotion rate of approximately 69.11% after appeals.