Romanian education sector regulatory and financial changes

Romanian educators are undergoing significant changes regarding compensation and professional requirements. In August 2026, updates were announced regarding salary increases and career bonuses. Teachers with over 25 years of seniority were projected to see income increases of at least 2,000 lei starting September 1, 2027, following a decision to delay the new salary grid implementation to align with the school year and manage budgetary impacts.

Additionally, nearly 109,000 teachers were issued didactic career bonuses of 1,500 lei net, with specific requirements that a portion of these funds be used for professional training.

By September 2026, new regulations from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health introduced mandatory psychiatric evaluations for pre-university education personnel. These assessments must occur every four years, or more frequently if health changes are identified. This mandate has raised concerns regarding the financial burden on local administrations and sparked legal clarifications from education unions, which assert that employers, rather than employees, must fund these mandatory medical examinations.