The integration of the vocational school into the technological high school requires admission, in the 2026-2027 school year, based on the average from the National Assessment, with the completion of specific stages that begin with the computerized distribution. It is the reason why in technological high schools, even the best performing ones, emotions are high.
The summer of 2026 brings great emotions to the teachers of the technological high schools who in the past years selected their students to the vocational school on the basis of direct enrollment. Some of the students, determined to learn a trade, did not even take the National Assessment tests anymore, presenting themselves with the admission file, after graduating from gymnasium, directly to the targeted school.
From the 2026-2027 school year, the rules are changing. Vocational school disappears, all students being admitted to high school (which, in the case of the technological profile, they can interrupt after obtaining the level III qualification, i.e. at the end of the 11th grade, or they can continue for another year, obtaining the level IV qualification).
Admission to high school requires passing the National Assessment to be sure that you get a place in the desired high school, for those who do not take the exam, admission takes place in the stages following the computerized distribution, on the places left unoccupied in this first stage.
The change that is taking place this year gives emotions even to the teachers of the technological high schools who in the past years had no problems filling their vacant places.
Attractive specializations, high interest in past years, suspense in summer 2026
“Cezar Nicolau” Technological High School in Brănești, Ilfov, is one of the best in the country. Principal Marinela Culea received, in 2024, the distinction of Teacher of the Year, category “Entrepreneurship”, from the Association for Values in Education (AVE), succeeding in 12 years to take the high school, from a class IX, to ten classes for which admission is organized annually.
In the 2025-2026 school year, at the high school in Brănești, places were up for grabs in four high school and six vocational school classes. This year, because the number of 8th grade students is smaller, the “Cezar Nicolau” Technological High School, which has three other high schools in the immediate vicinity, has proposed to create eight high school classes, as follows:
– 2 classes of “Technician in economic activities” (level IV qualification being “Technician in economic activities” – 56 places, and the level III – Receptionist distributor – 56 places);
– 1 class of “Veterinary technician” – 28 places (level IV – veterinary technician – 28 places; level III – animal technician – 28 places);
– 1 class of “Technician in agrotourism” – 28 places (level IIV – technician in agrotourism – 28 places; level III – worker in agrotourism – 14 places and worker in ecological agriculture – 14 places);
– 1 class of horticulturist technician – 28 places (level IV – horticulturist technician – 28 places; level III – horticulturist – 14 places; urban gardener – 14 places);
– 1 class of “Food industry” – 28 places (level IV – technician in the food industry – 28 places; level III – dairy products preparer – 14 places; operator in the processing of vegetables and fruits – 14 places)
– 1 “Tourism and food” class – 28 places (level IV – gastronomy technician – 28 places; level III – cook – 14 places; waiter-salesperson – 14 places);
– 1 “Mechanics” class – 28 places (level IV – mechanical technician for maintenance and repairs – 28 places; level III – car mechanic – 14 places; car paint tin – 14 places).
“Now we have to wait”
The high school has become one of the most sought after, having students from other counties as well. Annually, between 60 and 70 students go on internships in other countries, through Erasmus projects. The high school has practice partners among the most well-known economic agents, and several non-governmental associations support all students from day courses, through various projects and programs, not to lose their interest in learning and to complete their high school course with good results, many being supported on the way to college. In addition, accommodation in the high school dormitory is free and food costs are very low.
“There is not a student who is not involved in at least one project”, says director Marinela Culea, for “Adevărul”. The children are offered scholarships, personal development courses, remedial activities are done with them, etc.. There is no lack of interest in becoming a student of this high school, but the changes regarding admission, with the integration of the vocational school into the high school, cause anxiety.
“I have some emotions, we all have some emotions, because there is a difference in terms of admission. At the vocational school, in previous years we had the files in hand and knew exactly how we were doing with the level III admission part, but now we have to wait or actually go and sit next to the parent when they fill in the codes. We have emotions, yes”Prof. Culea revealed.
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It is the reason why the high school has strengthened its presence in social media, often communicating various information about admission.
“I advised all those who visited us, all the future graduates of the 8th grade, I advised them to sign up for the National Assessment and participate. Because if they do not participate in the National Assessment, they do not have the right to participate in the first stage of admission, and in the second stage of admission you enter on the remaining free places. And maybe you don’t want any of the seats left unoccupied. Maybe you didn’t get a place in the mechanic class because you didn’t want to take the National Assessment. You go to the National Assessment and regardless of the average you get, you will have the chance to participate in the first admission stage”, pointed out the director Marinela Culea.
Students with the highest averages choose Economic
At the “Cezar Nicolau” Technological High School in Brănești, the highest averages are entered in the “Economics” classes, but the last admission average has increased in recent years for the other specializations as well, approaching 5. For those in the “Agriculture” field, interest and admission averages were lower, but here too things have changed, and for the “Veterinary Technician” class the standard is constantly increasing.
In past years, about 90% of high school vocational school graduates continued their studies at high school, with two more years of full-time courses to follow. In the new system, they will obtain the level III qualification diploma at the end of the 11th grade and, if they stay for another year, they will also have the level IV qualification. In the future, the director is convinced, there will be students who will want to get a job immediately after obtaining the level III qualification. Many still work part-time after school, especially those in the chef-waiter specializations, even though the school and partner NGOs make efforts so that students do not lack what they need for school.
Accommodation in the high school dormitory, for example, is free, the parents only have to support the cost of the three meals a day, a very small amount – 35 lei/day/3 meals. This bearable cost is reached, given that the food, Prof. Marinela Culea also says, is very good, because various products are donated by partner companies, sponsorships are successful, etc.
“We learned to write letters, to attract sponsors”, Culea also specified. There was even the “Adopt a student” campaign, which sought good people willing to support certain expenses so that the students would not lack what they needed.
Students from Ilfov, but also students from Călărași, Ialomița, Vaslui, and Teleorman come to the technological high school in Brăneşti.
Although every student who wants to learn is supported, the help is not given by force, the director is categorical. “If the child doesn’t want to, I don’t insist on helping him. Well, we don’t do it by force. And this is very important, because the other students can see it too. I mean, if you really want to do it, it means you don’t have absences, you don’t have a stomach ache, you don’t have a headache. He invests in you. Even if what I say seems harsh, it is true. We try to make them responsible“, said Culea.
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All children receive a scholarship of 100 lei/month granted by the Ilfov County Council, which is their pocket money, and the various partner associations in turn select and support students from disadvantaged categories.
World Vision Romania supports, for example, 44 high school students, who come from underprivileged families, through the “I want in 9th grade” program. It offers them monthly scholarships to cover expenses related to transport, supplies, food, but also meditations in the subjects they have difficulties with. They are also co-opted in personal development workshops, independent living skills and career development, they go to camps and visits to various institutions and companies to make informed choices for the future. The condition to be admitted to the program – they are students from the 10th, 11th and 12th grades – is to have a minimum average of 7 and the possibilities of their parents to support them to be modest.
There are also students of the school who get lost on the way, admits the director Marinela Culea, but most of them return after 18 years, and after encountering difficulties in the labor market, and enroll in evening high school courses.
