Sorin-Gabriel Ionescu, nominated as the delegated minister for pre-university education in the Niculescu Government, has been the director of Colegiul Național Bănățean since 2014. Prior to his ministerial nomination by the PSD party, which he joined in 2000, Ionescu applied for another term as director. On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Ionescu participated in a competency exam as part of the director application process. The score he received on the first stage of the competition is currently under scrutiny. This comes as he is being considered for a high-ranking government position. The situation highlights the intersection of educational leadership and national politics in Romania.