**Romanian Survey Finds Growing Dissatisfaction with Public Services and a High Willingness to Emigrate**
*Bucharest, 2 September 2026* – A poll conducted by the APSAP Training Center (Centrul de Formare APSAP) reveals that nearly half of Romanian respondents believe the quality of public education has deteriorated over the past four years, while half say they would leave the country if they could. The study also highlights concerns about democratic backsliding, cyber‑security preparedness of public institutions, and strong support for remaining in the European Union.
**Key findings**
| Issue | Respondents’ view |
|——-|——————-|
| Public education quality (last 4 years) | 46.7 % say it has deteriorated (slightly or significantly); 26.8 % say it has improved; 26.5 % see no change |
| Main problem in education | 36.5 % cite the lack of an up‑to‑date curriculum aligned with labour‑market needs; 12.9 % call for clearer reforms; 12.8 % point to teacher preparation |
| Willingness to emigrate | 50 % would leave Romania if they had the opportunity (57.1 % among 18‑25‑year‑olds) |
| Support for EU membership | 81.1 % favour staying in the European Union; 4.8 % support leaving; 14.1 % undecided or non‑responsive |
| Perception of democracy | 51.4 % see democracy in decline or moving toward authoritarianism; 39.9 % acknowledge problems but consider the system functional; 8.7 % rate it as operating well |
| Cyber‑security readiness of public institutions | 58 % consider them unprepared for cyber attacks; 30.2 % view them as moderately prepared |
| Assessment of national defence readiness | 57.3 % believe Romania is “somewhat” or “completely” unprepared for a regional military conflict |
| Civic participation | 54.5 % rarely or never take part in protests, petitions or public debates; 32.9 % participate occasionally; 12.6 % are frequent participants |
The poll was carried out on a sample of 3,591 respondents, with data collection completed before 15 July 2026. The questionnaire covered a range of topics, including education, professional training, cyber‑security, democratic governance, and personal intentions regarding migration.
**Education and professional training**
Among respondents aged 18‑25, 32.1 % say public education has worsened, 31.8 % see improvement, and 36.2 % perceive no change. The proportion rating education as deteriorated rises to 54.5 % in the 50‑55 age group.
The survey also examined compliance with Romania’s Labour Code, which obliges employers with at least 21 employees to provide professional training at least once every two years, and smaller firms at least once every three years. While the law requires annual training plans for larger employers, the study notes that the Code does not prescribe a specific penalty for non‑compliance, and that employees must request paid training leave individually.
**Cyber‑security concerns**
The poll was conducted shortly after a ransomware incident on 14 July 2026 that disrupted the National Agency for Cadastre and Real Estate Publicity (ANCPI). The attack halted cadastral services for nearly a month, and the subsequent phased restart of the e‑Terra system in early August left approximately 94,000 pending requests. According to the survey, 49.7 % of respondents employed in the public sector consider their own institutions ill‑prepared for cyber attacks, and 85.5 % believe that digitalisation efforts have primarily focused on tax collection rather than security.
**Public sentiment on democracy and the EU**
More than half of those surveyed (51.4 %) perceive a visible decline in democratic standards, while 39.9 % acknowledge significant problems but still view the system as functional. Only 8.7 % express confidence that democracy operates well. Despite these concerns, a clear majority (81.1 %) support Romania’s continued membership in the European Union.
**Quotes**
Bogdan‑Costin Fârșirotu, president of the APSAP Training Center, commented on the education results:
> “Education does not collapse in a single day. It erodes slowly through outdated curricula, unsupported teachers and graduates who discover that their diplomas do not guarantee the required competencies. When relevance disappears, the labour market sends the bill
Article and image source: adevarul.ro
