This year children going to school for the first time will receive a new generation of textbooks, including an interactive primer in two tomes, one for every semester. As in the previous years, the first-graders will get to keep their primers.

Valentin Crudu, head of the General Education Directorate, told IPN that a number of experts recommended this primer despite its slightly higher cost compared to others. It is based on a model used in many European countries. The primer can also be used as a notebook for first-graders to scribble their first notes.

The new set of textbooks for the first grade is in line with the approval of an updated curriculum for primary education, says Valentin Crudu.

Second-graders will also get new textbooks this year. Another novelty is that the Digital Education module, introduced last year for first grade as part of Technology Education, can be extended to second grade on parents’ request.

As in previous years, textbooks for grades one to nine are provided free of charge, while lyceum students pay rental fees.