The 25% raise in teachers’ salaries, the purchase of 102 buses for transporting students and the intensification of the re-equipment process in education institutions are some of the important accomplishments achieved by the Education Ministry last year. The results were made public in a news conference, Info-Prim Neo reports. Among the achievements, Education Minister Mihail Shleahtitski mentioned also the publication of 42 textbook titles, the continuation of the child-friendly school pilot project in two districts (Leova – 5 institutions, Orhei – 5 institutions), the assessment of 132 preuniversity and preschool institutions and creation centers, the remarkable results achieved at international and regional Olympiads. A series of measures were taken to ensure transparency in grading Baccalaureate test papers. A number of education institutions were outfitted with modern equipment. As the number of students in primary and secondary education institutions fell by 37%, while the costs per student in rural schools are 3-5 times higher than in district centers, a process was launched to merge the schools. With the assistance of the Quality Education in Rural Areas Project, units of transport were acquired for taking over 4,500 students to district schools, said the minister. This year, the Ministry aims to publish textbooks according to the new curriculum and to buy another 42 units of transport. It will continue to implement the new financing method in preuniversity education institutions in nine districts (Cantemir, Calarasi, Criuleni, Glodeni, Leova, Nisporeni, Singerei, Stefan Voda, Taraclia) and in the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti. Sixteen workshops will be provided with new equipment. It is not excluded that teachers’ salaries this year will be increased again. The history exam in 2012 will be mandatory for the ninth graders and for the twelfth graders studying humanities.