The Ministry of Education and Research has launched a public consultation on the draft structure of the school year 2026-2027, setting September 7, 2026 as the starting date for the school year. The proposal has met resistance from the tourism business and parents’ associations, which are asking for a later date for economic reasons, sparking a debate between educational needs and the interests of the hospitality industry.
Under the proposed document, the school year will end on June 18, 2027. The structure provides exceptions for the final years, so the 12th grade will end classes on June 4, 2027, and the 8th grade on June 11, 2027. Opposition to the Sept. 7 date is based on the argument that the first month of fall is essential for tourism, allowing for low-cost vacations. Employers point out that prices for package holidays abroad can be up to 30% lower than at the peak of the season, and the “Seaside for All” program is active at home. In response, Sorin Ion, secretary of state in the education ministry, explained that postponing the start of school until September 14 would have a direct impact on the academic calendar. The official said that such a decision would require either postponing national exams well into the summer or eliminating one week of vacation within the school year, while pointing out that the European standard is for school to start around September 1.