The teachers who spoke out for the boycott of the national exams are prepared to continue the protest next week, when the Baccalaureate simulation tests take place. He asks, at the same time, why their action is publicly sanctioned, while the protest of the magistrates has been overlooked.
The teachers, fingered for the fact that they opted in large numbers for not participating in the simulation actions of the national exams, call for solidarity among the members and, at the same time, demand equal treatment with other socio-professional categories. The leader of the Argeș “Muntenia” Pre-University Education Union, Adrian Voica, draws attention to the fact that teachers are today publicly sanctioned, being questioned about their right to protest by not participating in an activity that they do not have in their job description, while the magistrates’ protest, which had major implications, being postponed the trial of thousands of cases that do not represent emergencies, was accepted as a legitimate right.
“We are witnessing an obvious attempt to discredit actions in education”
“During this period, we are witnessing an obvious attempt to discredit actions in education, as a result of the non-participation of many teaching staff in the simulation of the Baccalaureate exam. It is essential that we clarify and convey a unified message.
In Romania, magistrates are a professional category without the right to strike and have repeatedly adopted a form of protest consisting in the exclusive trial of urgent cases and the postponement of the other files by granting deadlines. This form was publicly recognized as a “protest” and not a disciplinary offence. Similarly, teachers do not refuse the teaching activity, do not block the operation of the school, but choose not to participate in additional activities (such as simulations), in disputed conditions or outside a clear regulation regarding working time”. attracts the attention of Adrian Voica.
The leader, who also holds the position of vice-president within the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education (FSLI), calls on colleagues in pre-university education to show solidarity and demand equal treatment.
“There are no two standards! If in Justice this form is considered legitimate, then in Education it must be treated the same way. We are not talking about indiscipline, but about respecting the work norm, protecting professional dignity, the right to a form of protest adapted to the existing legal framework. Please convey to your colleagues that not participating in the simulations is a legitimate form of professional protest, as no additional activity can be imposed without a legal basis and without the employee’s consent.” Voica also claimed.
The leader draws the attention of the colleagues to announce any act of pressure to which they are subjected by the superiors.
“If we don’t stand up for each other now, we risk legitimizing a dangerous precedent, one where teachers will be forced to accept anything, with no right of reaction. We do not ask for privileges, we ask for the same respect: if Justice can protest without being sanctioned, then Education cannot be silenced by labels and pressures”, Voica also pointed out.
Unions reported cases of “violation of the law”
Another union leader in pre-university education, from Vaslui, announced that he will submit a complaint to the Territorial Labor Inspectorate for cases in which teachers from other school units were brought in to support the simulation of National Assessment tests. There are cases of “black work”, the leader Sorin Țiplea appreciated, accusing IȘJ Vaslui of violating the legislation of organizing the simulation of the National Evaluation just to support this activity at any cost.
The Ministry of Education announced, on the other hand, on Thursday, March 19, 2026, that from the data sent from the counties (reference date: March 19, 4:00 p.m.), “the simulation of the written tests of this year’s national baccalaureate exam, scheduled during the next week, will take place in more than 1,350 educational units with students in final high school classes.” According to the official communication of the MEC, in 69 (4.84%) school units the simulation activity will not be organized due to the boycott.
The Minister of Education, Mihai Dimian, thanked, according to the latest press release posted on the ministry’s website, the teachers who “contributed and contribute to the development of this important initiative, carried out in the interest of the students, to evaluate the current level of training, identify possible gaps in training and familiarize them with the conditions for conducting the national exams this summer”.
From the data reaching the federations of education unions, a massive boycott is predicted for next week in Covasna county (which was the leader of the action within the National Evaluations), where in almost half of the high schools (eight out of 17) the simulation will not be supported. And in the Vaslui area, teachers are ready to continue the protest, in two high schools out of eight they have announced that they refuse to appear as members of the examination boards.
