Ilie Bolojan is preparing new cuts in education. Prime Minister's plans for 2026: “Major financial adjustments”

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who just what took over on an interim basis the position of Minister of Education, after the resignation of Daniel David, is planning new changes in the education system in 2026, with the aim of making savings in the state budget, sources familiar with the subject told HotNews. The changes mainly target the university environment.

The decisions regarding the measures that will be taken in the field of education during this year have not been clearly established, but these days more discussions are taking place. They also take place in the context in which Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is looking for a person to assume the position of Minister of Education.

The people who spoke to HotNews about the matter asked not to be named, precisely because of the sensitivity of the matter and the ongoing discussions.

Fewer places budgeted for students

One of the measures that Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is currently discussing and would like to implement is the decrease in the number of budgeted places for students. It is about those places “at the state”, for which students with good grades do not pay the annual tuition fee.

The main changes that Ilie Bolojan has in mind refer to the “rethinking of the university financing system”. Reducing the number of budgeted places in a university would bring more money to the faculties, from the annual study fees paid by students, HotNews sources explained the motivation behind the proposal.

“Important financial adjustments will be made”, specified the people who took part in some discussions with Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.

A possible merger of the universities

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is considering a possible merger of the universities, as Edupedu.ro also wrote. HotNews sources stated that this scenario is being considered, but it is difficult to say whether it will be able to be implemented.

“However, I find it hard to believe that we will see a massive merger of universities. Not that it would not be good, but it must be done carefully, on the French model. It is difficult to do it quickly without massive political support,” explained a source familiar with the discussions.

Negotiations with the future Minister of Education

Until this moment, the only people circulated to take over the position of Minister of Education were Marilen Pirtea and Luciana Antoci. Pirtea had several discussions with Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in recent weeks, but the two did not reach an agreement.

The future Minister of Education must agree with the position of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, more precisely accept new cuts from education, or Marilen Pirtea does not agree with new cuts, but wants more investments, according to HotNews sources. However, the talks between Pirtea and Bolojan will continue in the next period, according to the same sources.

In 2025 the Bolojan Government made changes for pre-university education

In the year 2025, a series of measures have already been taken that have brought the Government and Minister Daniel David a series of criticisms. The measures taken last year mainly targeted pre-university education.

Among the measures taken are: increasing the teaching norm by two hours; merging more than 500 schools; the maximum number of students in a class was increased and some student scholarships were cut (for example, Olympian scholarships were completely eliminated for the current school year, 2025-2026).

More than 10,000 teachers took to the streets in Bucharest on the first day of the 2025-2026 school year to protest the measures taken in the field of education. It was the first time in the last 35 years that the first day of school was held, in many schools, without festivities, this being also a form of protest.

Students in class, illustrative image. Source: © Lightpoet | Dreamstime.com