Romanian television channel Digi24 ran a nationwide experiment on 26 January 2026 to test how many Romanians still know how to write in the traditional calligraphic style taught from first grade. The test, conducted on paper and compared to the results of a similar test on a 2015 version, shows that handwriting skills have declined for people of all ages. Teachers say that writing by hand requires years of practice, patience, and concentration - all of which are eroded under the pressure of modern school curricula and digital devices. Ioana Rill, a teacher who took part in the study, warned that the learning process “takes a few years and requires a lot of patience, concentration power. Unfortunately, under the pressure of programs, age, it dilutes, in some way, this process.” The study concludes that, despite early instruction, the practice of calligraphic writing is becoming a challenge in contemporary Romania.

Original article can be found here.