France's baccalaurat accommodations surge overwhelms system as EU grapples with disparities

The number of French high-school students requiring special accommodations for this year’s baccalauréat has surged to 76,400, or 10.5% of terminale candidates, according to figures published on Monday. The exponential rise—driven by requests for extra time, frequent breaks and the use of laptops—has overwhelmed exam organisers and raised questions about whether the measures still match students’ actual needs .

Logistical bottlenecks are already visible. Regional education authorities report delays in delivering adapted exam papers and arranging extra rooms, while some centres have had to hire additional invigilators at short notice. “We are seeing requests for tiered time that are three or four times longer than the original exam duration,” said a senior official at the ministry of education, who asked not to be named. The ministry has earmarked an extra €12 million to cover the costs, but critics argue the system is struggling to keep pace with demand.

In Romania, the first day of the digital-skills assessment for the 2026 Bacalaureat exposed a stark mismatch between infrastructure and training. Although the country boasts faster average broadband speeds than many Western European states, students sat the exam with paper-based instructions because many schools lack functional computers or reliable networks. “We have medieval-era equipment but Silicon Valley expectations,” said education minister Sorin Cîmpeanu. Only 34% of candidates achieved the minimum proficiency level, prompting calls for a national digital-literacy overhaul.

Across the EU, the contrasting experiences highlight divergent approaches to inclusion and technological readiness. In Portugal, the national exams began on Monday under a new grading system championed by the Associação Nacional de Directores de Agrupamentos de Escolas Públicas, which says all 1,200 test centres are ready . Meanwhile, in Greece, the special-subject examinations in English got under way on schedule, with 112,000 candidates sitting papers in 1,050 venues .

Educators warn that without coordinated EU-level standards for both physical accommodations and digital competence, disparities will widen. The European Commission is expected to propose a framework by September, but for the class of 2026 the exams are already in full swing.