Teachers in pre-university education can obtain a salary bonus in 2026 by awarding merit grading. According to the project published by the Ministry of Education, teachers who meet the performance criteria will receive a 25% increase in their basic salary, starting on September 1, 2026.
The 2026 teacher merit rating is awarded through competition and is intended for teachers who demonstrate outstanding professional results, involvement in educational activity and achievements achieved together with students.
Which teachers receive merit graduation in 2026
According to the methodology put out for public consultation by the Ministry of Education, merit grades can be awarded for:
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teaching staff;
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auxiliary teaching staff;
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management, guidance and control staff.
In the case of teachers, they must have at least five years of experience, the qualification “Very good” in each school year of the evaluated period (September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2025) and have proven outstanding performance in:
- didactic activity quantified in student results;
- didactic innovation in: training of preschoolers or students/ training of students through the use of technology and the Internet or other alternative methods of education/ training of distinguished students at school competitions
- preventing and combating school dropout and early school leaving, in the integration of children with special educational needs and/or learning disorders in mainstream education, in the school progress of students at risk of school dropout, in the initiation and management of school projects that have led to the consolidation of school culture centered on progress, cooperation and inclusion.
The number of gradations is limited. The Ministry of Education stipulates that they can be granted for a maximum of 16% of the total teaching positions available at the level of each county and the municipality of Bucharest.
Criteria for merit grading
In order to award the grade of merit, the school inspectorates will evaluate the activity of the registered candidates, included in a (self) evaluation sheet, which must be supported by supporting documents, the methodology states.
For the teaching staff and the management, guidance and control teaching staff, the candidate must meet the following general criteria:
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The criterion of complex activities with instructive-educational value;
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The criterion regarding outstanding performances in didactic innovation/educational management;
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The criterion regarding extracurricular activities and involvement in professional training projects/programs;
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The criterion regarding the contribution to institutional development.
How to register
The calendar looks like this
- May 11, 2026 – The Ministry of Education sends the number of filled positions to the school inspectorates; according to these data, the number of available gradations is calculated
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May 12 – 13, 2026 – the inspectorates establish the scores for the evaluation criteria, the number of grades and the minimum thresholds for disciplines and categories;
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18 – 19 May 2026 – the proposals are approved in the administrative boards of the inspectorates and the evaluation sheets are published;
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May 25 – 29, 2026 – teachers submit the files for registration;
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June 2 – 10, 2026 – the evaluation of the files and the publication of the provisional lists take place;
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June 11 – 12, 2026 – appeals are submitted;
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June 15 – 19, 2026 – the appeals are resolved and the final results are displayed;
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until June 26, 2026 – the inspectorates send the final lists of validated beneficiaries to the ministry;
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until August 7, 2026 – the Minister of Education issues the official order for the awarding of merit grades.
How much extra money do teachers get?
The 2026 teacher merit gradation represents a 25% increase in the basic salary and is granted for a period of five years.
For example, a teacher who has a basic salary of 8,000 gross lei can receive approximately 2,000 gross lei in addition each month during the period of graduation.
The benefit is payable from September 1, 2026, with the beginning of the new school year. Teachers who have already had merit grading and for whom it expires on August 31, 2026 can register for the competition again.
