Romania's education sector proposes earlier school year and Bacalaureat dates after heatwave

During a severe heatwave that pushed temperatures above 40 °C and triggered red‑code alerts, Romania's national Bacalaureat exams were disrupted, with many testing rooms lacking air‑conditioning. In response, teachers and the National Council of Students have called for a revision of the school calendar. Teachers suggest moving the written exams to mid‑June, when weather is typically milder. Student council president Mihnea Haiduc proposes starting the 2026‑2027 school year two weeks earlier (early September) and ending classes by 10 June, allowing the national exams to be held around 14‑18 June. The proposals also urge the Ministry of Education to modernise school infrastructure, including installing climate‑control systems, and to adopt a more flexible exam schedule to cope with increasingly frequent extreme heat events. The Ministry has already postponed one written test by a day, but officials and school administrators are urged to implement longer‑term solutions.