Romanian Senate Approves Removal of Extra High School Admission Exam

The Romanian Senate has given its final approval to a law that eliminates the supplementary high school admission exam, with the decision now moving to the next stage of promulgation. The law received overwhelming support, passing with 103 votes in favor, none against, and three abstentions.

Under the new regulations, high school admissions will be based on the National Evaluation results coupled with a computerized distribution system. This change marks the removal of Article 101 from Law 198/2023, which had previously allowed for separate contests to fill up to 50% of available places in high schools. The supplementary contest was initially set to be introduced in the 2026-2027 academic year.

While the general admission process will undergo these changes, vocational schools will continue to conduct specific aptitude tests for their prospective students. Up to 10% of high school places will be reserved for students with disabilities and those from the Roma community.

The Chamber of Deputies had already adopted the legislative project on August 24, and the Senate, acting as the decisional chamber, cast its vote on September 8. Once the law is published in the Official Monitor, it will come into effect three days later.

Senator Ștefan Pălărie commented on the legislative change, describing it as "correcting an injustice." Despite the modifications in the admission process, the structure of the National Evaluation itself remains unchanged. The new admission rules are set to be implemented starting with the 2026-2027 school year.