Important changes to national assessment and the baccalaureate exam

The drafts of the new Education Laws aim to modernize curricula, change student testing and assessment, reduce school dropouts, as well as new support measures for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

They are to be adopted by the government in two weeks, after receiving all the necessary technical approvals, but the final form will be decided later by the parliament.

The drafts contain important changes to the national assessment and the baccalaureate exam.

The baccalaureate exam provides for one more test, which targets the students' basic skills, and in addition there is also the technological baccalaureate.

In relation to the most discussed expected change and related to high school admission rules, Minister Ligia Deca stated yesterday, on our radio station, that the National Assessment exam will remain in its current form, i.e. it will be the same for all 8th grade graduates.

Later, the high schools where the competition is usually high will be able to organize admission based on two additional tests, with topics developed by the ministry, but only for 60% of the available places.

The others will deal with computerized distribution, as is currently the case.

Ligia Deca: This entrance exam will not take place until after the first generation starting the 5th grade, after the adoption of the law, enters that gymnasium cycle. This means that the first year in which we will organize this exam is 2027. Until then, we can carry out the methodologies in consultation with experts, and with people from high schools, as well as from the civil society, after which we can pilot it, that is, see how the system would work before we extend it to the whole educational system.

The Minister of Education also said that an immediate effect of the adoption of the legislative package will be the application of the "Healthy Meal" program for one million children.

Translated by: Radu Matei