Education Minister Admits High School Disaster

Romania is facing deep problems in its high school education system, which is in a "primitive" state, said Education and Research Minister Daniel David. "In the area of high school education, we are in the Stone Age, not even the Middle Ages," the minister said, underlining the urgent need for reform.

• High school reform, absolute priority

Daniel David indicated that the renewal of subjects, content, teaching methods and textbooks are essential steps for modernizing the system. He stressed the need for a curriculum focused on real skills, not just the accumulation of theoretical knowledge. "Some of us go only on declarative knowledge, others on practical skills, without the theoretical component. Neither extreme offers educational performance," he explained.

• Modern textbooks and interactive tasks

The minister advocated for hybrid textbooks, which would combine the classic and digital formats, but also for the inclusion of interactive tasks, such as online accessible exercises and gaming-type tests. "Textbooks are a very important link in an efficient educational process," Daniel David said.

• Standardized assessments - useful, but must be adapted

The OECD report validates the existence of standardized assessments in grades 2, 4, 6 and 8, but draws attention to the fact that those for primary grades must be simplified and transformed into a personalized feedback tool for students. Regarding the National Assessment, Daniel David said that the current form is too restrictive, focusing on only two subjects, while students study many more subjects. "This one-off assessment burdens the child's life trajectory. The OECD suggests a more complex approach - for example, including grades from grades 7 and 8," the minister said.

• Grading - no clear standards in Romania

Another sensitive point is the lack of standardization in grading. The minister drew attention to the large discrepancies between schools and regions. "A grade of 8 in Cluj can mean something different than an 8 in Satu Mare. We need to establish clear and uniform grading standards, applicable in all schools in the country," David stressed. Referring to the Baccalaureate exam, the minister noted that the OECD considers the current format "relatively acceptable," as it reflects high school profiles and specializations. "If we have distinct specializations in high school, it is logical that they should also be found in the Baccalaureate. The current structure is correct from this point of view," the Minister of Education concluded. The OECD report and the position of Minister Daniel David highlight the urgent need to modernize the Romanian education system, especially at the high school level. Without a consistent reform, based on competencies, modern methods and uniform standards, Romania risks remaining in the "Stone Age" of education.