Romanian schools confront silent student disengagement and grading complexities

Education expert Gloria Dalafu highlights a growing problem in Romanian schools: students who attend class, cause no disruption and maintain good grades yet gradually withdraw socially and academically. She describes a “pre‑absence drift” where signs such as sudden silence, irregular unpatterned absences, changed friendships and loss of future‑oriented discussion precede formal dropout. Dalafu urges schools to establish early‑warning systems and coordinated interventions during this quiet window, noting Romania’s persistently high early‑school‑leaving rates within the EU.

Separately, the Ministry of Education’s 2024 regulations detail how secondary‑school averages are mathematically calculated, while primary‑school performance is assessed through qualitative grades (Foarte Bine, Bine, Suficient, Insuficient). The annual result for younger pupils depends on the dominant grade, with tie‑breakers based on overall progress throughout the year, ensuring that improvement or decline influences the final assessment.