Ukrainian refugees submitted over 1,400 applications to have their children enrolled at schools and kindergartens in Moldova, said Minister of Education and Research Anatolie Topală. According to him, 1,300 Ukrainian children already attend Moldovan schools and kindergartens, IPN reports.

The minister noted that the Republic of Moldova has to manage a large flow of Ukrainian citizens who fled from the war and the refugee children are being involved in the education process in Midlives.

“We offer a number of options to the Ukrainian refugees. Enrolment is the first option and this option is also open to the citizens who filed an application for asylum. Attendance of school alongside the other students as audients is the second option. This option is open to all the Ukrainian citizens who are in the Republic of Moldova. These can also opt for extra-curricular activities,” Anatolie Topală stated in the talk show “Freedom” on TV8 channel.

The minister noted the procedure for enrolling applicants at the school or kindergarten was simplified and includes only the presentation of an application and of IDs. Most of the applicants were already enrolled in the education system of the Republic of Moldova.

“The application can be filed by the parent or the legal representative of the child. This can go to the mayor’s office or the education institution of the locality where the applicant stays. The application is presented together with a document that confirms the identity of the child and the parent. Over 1,400 applications have been submitted by now and about 1,300 applicants were enrolled – 1,000 in general education institutions, while 320 in kindergartens,” said Minister Topală.

According to official data, over 101,000 Ukrainian refugees are now in Moldova and about 49,000 of them are minors. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the Bureau for Migration and

Asylum of Moldova received over 5,400 applications for asylum.