The national education system needs 2,000 more teachers, including 800 for early education. Another 2,000 teachers need professional re-qualification. The data were presented by the secretary of state at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research Angela Kutasevici in hearings held within the parliamentary commission on culture, education, youth, sport and the mass media on July 4, IPN reports.

According to Angela Kutasevici, the dual training system with mentoring will be implemented for the first time in Moldova as from September 1. This will be tested at the Teacher Training College of Chisinau to train educators. The Ministry issued 800 certificates for young specialists, who will be employed as of September 1. It is also proposed reducing the teaching norm in early education from 35 to 30 hours.

Among other problems faced in early education are the shortage of crèches, the crowded state kindergartens and the non-provision of money for building and repairing pre-school institutions by the local public authorities. Shortcomings were also identified in the payment of salaries to teachers and in the financing of programs for children with special educational needs.

The MPs recommended the Ministry to identify solutions to the existing problems and to propose legislative amendments if need be.