According to the Institutional Strategic Plan 2025 – 2028 of the Ministry of Education, only half of Romanians between the ages of 16 and 19 possess at least basic digital skills, while the European Union average reaches 69%.
Worse, European Commission data from a report published last year show that, in 2023, only 27.7% of the entire population of Romania had basic digital skills, compared to the European average of 55.56%. These figures place our country at the bottom of the European ranking in terms of technological literacy.
Computer science teacher Alin Giurea explained to Adevărul what are the main causes of this situation, offering a gloomy picture of the facilities and the way of teaching in Romanian schools.
“We have facilities like the Middle Ages, but expectations like Silicon Valley. On paper, every school has a computer lab. In reality, students learn on computers with Windows 7 and processors that are almost blaring. Some schools don’t even have a working net. How do you teach a kid to use cloud tools when his PowerPoint barely opens after 5 minutes?
We also still teach things that are too simple, like “save a file” or totally unappealing. Young people already know how to stay on social media, but they do not know how to search for correct information, verify a source or take care of data security. The curriculum does not keep pace with current needs. Few of my colleagues have been seriously retrained in recent years. We have no free quality courses, no time, no incentives. It’s hard to teach well something you learn on your own without support”said the teacher.
Structural problems behind digital illiteracy
The professor emphasizes that the difficulties do not stop at the infrastructure. He draws attention to the superficial nature of the digital skills test in the baccalaureate exam.
“In the baccalaureate, digital skills tests are often passed easily, with repetitive subjects. Students learn some steps by heart, they don’t really understand what they are doing. So, immediately after the exam, they forget everything. In rural areas, many young people do not even have a computer at home or access to the Internet except on an old phone. The school cannot compensate enough, because the laboratories are small and poorly equipped.
Many investments have to be made. We need new computers in schools, training programs for teachers, updating the school curriculum and a serious assessment at the baccalaureate, not just a symbolic one. Otherwise, we will remain in Europe’s tail“, the teacher also reported.
How to develop digital skills
During June 15-17, high school graduates take the D test, which is conducted on the computer and has a predominantly practical character. Candidates must solve both theoretical requirements and practical applications, from writing documents and processing data in spreadsheets to surfing the Internet and managing electronic mail. The evaluation is carried out according to a program established by each educational unit, and candidates are scheduled between 13:00 and 14:30 (Romanian time). The total duration of the test is 90 minutes, calculated from the moment the topics are distributed. Of these, 15 minutes are allocated to solving sheet A, which involves access to the Internet, and 75 minutes to completing sheet B. Candidates who hold recognized international certifications, such as ECDL or ICDL, can request the equivalence of this test.
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According to the Ministry of Education, digital skills are evaluated for each candidate by two examiners: the teacher who taught the discipline in class and another specialist from the same study area, appointed at the level of the educational unit.
In case of incompatibility, the committee can be completed with teachers from other schools. For test D, the results are obtained by scoring by the two examiners, each giving a score between 0 and 100.
The final score is the arithmetic mean of the two grades, rounded to the nearest whole number (the fraction of 0.50 is rounded in favor of the candidate). Depending on the score, the level of digital competence is determined: 0-30 points – novice user; 31-55 points – average level; 56-74 points – advanced; 75-100 points – experienced. The results are displayed at the level of each educational unit within no more than two working days after taking the test.
Passing all language and digital skills evaluation tests is a mandatory condition for passing the Baccalaureate 2026. A candidate’s refusal to answer or solve the topics will result in absence from that test.
When entering the examination hall, candidates must present a valid identity document (ID card or passport) and the rules strictly prohibit the possession and use of any assistive materials or electronic devices, including mobile phones.
The skills tests started between June 8 and 10 with test A (Romanian language), continued on June 10-11 with test B (mother tongue) and on June 11-12 with test C (language of international circulation).
The written exam in Romanian language and literature is scheduled for June 29, 2026, followed on June 30 by the mandatory profile exam, on July 2 by the optional profile exam and on July 3 by the mother tongue exam.
Initial results are posted on July 7 by 12:00, and appeals are filed on the same day between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m., as well as on July 8-9. The resolution of appeals will take place on July 9-10, and the final results will be announced on July 13, 2026.
