Romania’s national eighth-grade exam began Monday with controversy surrounding the difficulty of the Romanian language portion, according to teachers. The start of the exam coincides with renewed protests by teachers’ unions regarding working conditions and pay. Simultaneously, discussions are intensifying regarding the potential implementation of mandatory school uniforms nationwide. The “5 News by Libertatea – Education” segment, hosted by Laura Macavei, highlighted these developments as the most prominent educational news of the week. The exam’s difficulty has sparked debate about the curriculum and assessment methods. The uniform debate centers on issues of equity and school discipline. These issues are unfolding as the national exam progresses.