Moldova took a significant step towards enhancing educational standards for alolingual students on March 20, 2025, as the Parliament voted to introduce a new certification process for Romanian language competencies. This legislative change allows students from Russian-language schools to obtain certification that demonstrates their proficiency in Romanian, which is crucial given the increasing importance of language skills in today’s job market.
The new provision, introduced into the Education Code, specifies that students who pass a standardized B2 level language proficiency test will be exempt from the Romanian language and literature baccalaureate exam. Instead of taking the exam, these students will automatically receive a perfect score of 10—a move designed to encourage more young people to improve their language skills.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to standardize and digitalize the evaluation of language competencies in accordance with European standards. According to the Ministry of Education, the assessment will consist of four key components: reading, writing, listening, and communication. The latter will be assessed using unified and standardized methods across the nation, making sure that all students are evaluated on the same scale.
In addition to benefiting high school students, the new law opens opportunities for adults aspiring to improve their Romanian language skills or to test their current levels. The lawmakers behind this initiative, including deputies Larisa Novac, Marcela Adam, and Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei of the Party of Action and Solidarity, emphasize the dual objective of improving educational quality while also enhancing access to the job market. "Intervențiile legislative au ca obiective îmbunătățirea calității educației și creșterea oportunităților de acces pe piața muncii în contextul cerințelor privind competențele de comunicare în limba română, precum și asigurarea unui proces de certificare transparent, echitabil și adaptat nevoilor educaționale din prezent," the deputies stated in their project notes.
The Ministry of Education will allocate 191,000 lei to implement this initiative, covering the costs of developing exam materials and evaluating both written and oral performances. This financial commitment is anticipated to pave the way for about 400 adults and high school students to participate in the Romanian language skills evaluation each year.
Furthermore, the legislation includes provisions regarding the establishment of funding sources for complementary artistic extracurricular education institutions. This additional support will be drawn from the budgets of local administrative units and other legal sources, enhancing the scope of educational opportunities available within the community.
After its publication in the Official Gazette, this new legislative framework will come into force, with the Government tasked to prepare and approve the necessary normative acts within three months. Such measures embody a progressive change for educational structures in Moldova, positioning the system to better meet contemporary linguistic demands and encouraging a generation of well-equipped communicators.
By integrating these educational reforms, Moldova aims not just for an academic uplift but also to enhance employability among its youth. In a rapidly globalizing world, proficiency in a national language is no longer just a matter of identity—it's a gateway to greater professional opportunities. As such, this certification initiative represents a landmark moment in the nation’s educational landscape, fostering inclusivity and effective communication skills for all its citizens.
