The Moldovan education system hasn’t been prepared for switching over to distance learning. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers’ and students’ digital skills weren’t developed. The created situation and the mobilization that followed represented a start for the changes needed in the education process. The opinions were stated in a debate that was organized by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, IPN reports.
Alex Leahu, teacher of the Chisinau Theoretical Lyceum “Spiru Haret”, said distance learning and the taken measures represent a catalyst for the changes that are in full swing and that will yet follow and this is the good side of the current situation. As a teacher, he became involved in the education of students as regards behavior in the online environment as these didn’t feel obliged to be present at online lessons, to connect to the Internet beforehand and to be active. Time has come for them to realize their role in the education process.
Education expert Sergiu Corlat, teacher of the Theoretical Lyceum “Orizont”, said that one of the conclusions deriving from the current situation is the necessity of modernizing the educational resources. More digital resources are needed and these should be more interactive, not only informative. His teaching model consists of short and rare theoretical sessions and many practical activities that are not attached to a timetable. The teachers should be trained more to use information technology. The ICT component should be permanently updated as technology develops swiftly.
Valeria Ciolac, students of the Theoretical Lyceum “Mihai Eminescu” of Bălți, said the education system wasn’t prepared for such a transformation. Even at the informatics classes, the students are taught to build models and algorithms in the Pascal system, but are not taught essential things that are indispensable in distance learning, such as the use of Google Drive, for example. Such content should be part of the school curricula. All the players of the education system have what to learn from the experience generated by the pandemic.
The debate “Impact of COVID-19 on the Republic of Moldova: how inclusive and efficient online teaching process is?” was organized by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation
