Romanian student expelled from Baccalaureate exam after phone rang

During the first competence test of the 2026 Romanian Baccalaureate, a student in Valea Jiului (Hunedoara County) had his mobile phone ring after receiving a Ro‑Alert storm warning. The use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited in exam rooms. The inspector‑general of schools, Prof. Dr. Maria Ștefănie, said the student was immediately removed from the exam hall and barred from participating in the next two Baccalaureate sessions. She emphasized that the rule applies to all schools in Hunedoara and that this is the first recorded case of an exam expulsion caused by a warning alert.

The Baccalaureate has officially started, with competence tests graded on a pass/fail basis and written exams to follow.