A Turning Point in Romanian Education: Key Reforms by Daniel David for 2025–2026

Summer 2025 marks a pivotal moment for Romanian education. Under Minister Daniel David, sweeping reforms are introduced to modernize both pre-university and higher education. Știrinoi.com brings you an in-depth look: from curricular changes and the “School 8–17” pilot program, to teacher pay adjustments and the expansion of dual education at universities.

1. Curriculum Reform and Framework Plans

Minister Daniel David published the QX report and draft high school framework curriculum, open for public consultation until June 26, 2025 . The revamped curriculum aims to:

• balance academic vs general culture, religion, health, civic education;

• reduce class overload and prioritize practical relevance;

• include modern content and teaching methods inspired by Northern Europe and Latin America .

New textbooks will be tendered at the end of 2025, and teacher training begins in 2026 when the new curriculum is implemented .

2. The “School 8–17” Initiative

This pilot program, launching next autumn, aligns school hours with working families’ needs. Teachers involved receive extra compensation for supervision and extracurricular activities .

3. Evaluation and System Digitalization

Standardized testing will be introduced in January 2026 for upper-middle school, expanding to high schools by November 2025 . Simultaneously, full system digitalization is underway to reduce bureaucracy via electronic registers and unified reporting .

4. Teacher Pay and Workload Adjustments

Changes include:

• adjusted teaching load with hourly pay not exceeding regular salary ;

• class consolidations in rural areas and a recalibrated scholarship system .

Teacher unions demand transparency and fair negotiations regarding these measures .

5. University Reform & Dual Education

Since June 2025, universities will adopt differentiated missions and promote dual education programs—part of ten major reforms introduced under Daniel David . Ethics and transparency standards in research are also being strengthened.

6. Challenges: Functional Illiteracy & Urban-Rural Gaps

The QX report warns of:

• persistent functional illiteracy,

• high school dropouts,

• stark urban-rural educational disparities .

The OECD emphasizes that equity remains the central challenge despite recent progress .

Interesting Facts

• ROSE project lowered dropout rates from 6.5 % to 1.96 % and increased graduation rates from 49.6 % to 67.8 % .

• Romania shifted to five educational modules/year since 2022 .

• Law 430/2023 enforces zero tolerance for sexual harassment in schools and universities .

Opinions

• Daniel David: reform is “unavoidable,” guided by rationality, decency, and morality – detailed timelines will be unveiled June 26 conference .

• Teacher unions: demand clarity and protection for teacher rights and fair pay .

• OECD experts: praise funding levels but stress urban-rural divides and functional literacy issues .

• Academics at Oxford: highlight underfunding threats to higher education quality and research vitality.

Conclusion

Daniel David’s reforms, supported by the QX report and the 2025–2028 Government Program, set a clear course toward modernizing Romania’s education system: more relevant curriculum, digitalization, standardized testing, teacher support, and equity.