The educational system of the Republic of Moldova experiences a shortage of over 2,300 teachers, said Minister of Education and Research Anatolie Topală. According to him, the serious shortage of staff is the biggest challenge faced by the educational system. To encourage young people to work in the system, the state comes with a consistent social package that includes the provision of 200,000 lei and the payment of bills during the first five years of work for those who choose to work as teachers, IPN reports.
“Moreover, over 50% of the human resources in education are persons older than 50. To solve this problem, we proposed adjustments to the Education Code and we hope they will contribute to attracting young people to the system. We have a shortage of over 2,300 teachers according to the data furnished by local education divisions,” Anatolie Topală stated in the program “Reflection Points” on Vocea Basarabiei channel.
Acceding to the minister, to make the job of teacher more attractive, the allowance of 40,000 lei a year provided so far during the first three years of work will be available during five years and the public utility bills for young teachers will be paid also during five years.
“The amendments to the Education Code this week will be given a second reading by Parliament. We come with a package of support for young specialists. We extend the period during which they will receive support in the form of 40,000 lei a year from three to five years. In total, they will get 200,000 lei. The teaching norm will be reduced but the salary will be kept. The state will cover the costs for public utilities for young specialists from towns and villages,” explained the minister.
He noted that there are many schools with a reduced number of students in Moldova and these institutions could be merged so as to increase the quality of education.
“Regrettably, we have schools with 17 children, primary schools where the classes are merged – the first grade with the second grade and the third grade with the fourth grade. Such situations are not clear even to me. The last case about which I learned is that of a school in which there are only 17 pupils. But there are three more schools at a distance of 4-5 km and these have 19, 90 and 120 students respectively. These 200 students can study together at one school. The given decisions by the district councils are not clear to me. Do they think about the quality of education offered to these children?” asked Anatolie Topală.
According to the minister, in Moldova there are over 1,200 primary and secondary schools and lyceums and more than 1,300 kindergartens.
