Romania's National Exam Reveals Deep Urban-Rural Divide, Only Seven Perfect Scores Nationwide

Romania's 2026 National Evaluation results, published Wednesday, reveal a stark academic divide, with only seven students across the country achieving a perfect score of 10. This outcome underscores a national challenge in education, particularly highlighting a profound gap between students in urban and rural areas.

The data, centralized by the Ministry of Education, illustrates a deep chasm between economically developed counties and those lagging behind. This disparity is mirrored in the performance differences between students educated in cities versus those in the countryside, suggesting systemic issues affecting educational quality and access.

Officials from the Ministry of Education are reportedly defending their approach amidst criticism of the results. The findings point to a "two-speed Romania" in education, where opportunities and outcomes vary dramatically based on geographic location and socioeconomic factors. The ministry's defense is expected to address how these inequalities will be tackled.