Romanian Ministry postpones Bacalaureat profile exam to July 1 amid heatwave

The Ministry of Education issued an emergency order to delay the mandatory profile written test of the 2026 Bacalaureat (mathematics or history) from 30 June to 1 July because the National Meteorological Administration issued a red‑heat alert. The change applies only to that single paper; the rest of the exam calendar remains unchanged.

Special measures were mandated for all written exams nationwide: provision of drinking water, intensified ventilation, deployment of medical staff at examination centres, and the use of air‑conditioned rooms where available. Only a minority of the 443 centres have full climate control; for example, in Timiș County three schools are fully air‑conditioned, while many others rely on fans or portable coolers.

Approximately 131 000 candidates are sitting the Bacalaureat across Romania. Several local reports noted heat‑related incidents, including a student in Brașov who required emergency medical assistance and the relocation of some sessions to better‑ventilated rooms.

Separately, the initial results of the 2026 Evaluare Națională for eighth‑grade students were published on 1 July, showing anonymised scores accessible via a unique code. Top averages were recorded in counties such as Bistrița‑Năsăud (9.92), Alba (9.87) and Argeș (9.92). Candidates may view their papers and file appeals on 1‑3 July; final results are scheduled for 8 July, after which high‑school placement will be computerized.

The coordinated response highlights the ministry’s effort to balance exam integrity with student health amid extreme summer temperatures.