The regulations and provisions of the Education Code on managerial functions competition in the educational institutions have been "altered", immediately after 2015. As a result, appointees could be selected based on political criteria. Opinions in this regard were expressed by Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, Minister of Education, Culture and Research during TV8’s show "Cutia Neagra".

"I tried to convey to my colleagues the message regarding the exclusion of any political interference when it comes to the educational process and managerial process in institutions," Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei specified.

According to the minister, the candidate evaluation process for managerial competition is very difficult, given the fact that the Republic of Moldova is rather small and most of the evaluators are already acquainted with the candidates.

The Minister of Education says the Ministry will intervene on the Regulation regarding the organization of competition for managerial functions, also in the part concerning the evaluation tools. 

She says the Regulation provides for the participation in this competition of individuals as observers entitled to contest any irregularities.

Moreover, the minister specified that out of three secretaries recently appointed to the ministry headed by her, only one is a party member, namely Adrian Băluțel, who is a member of the Action and Solidarity Party. Valentina Chicu and Elena Belei, former Secretary of State in the Filip Government, are not party members.

The minister explained that the appointment of Elena Belei, although she held positions in the former government and has been noticed as a participant in party activities carried out by the former government, was based on professionalism criteria. “My collaboration with Mrs. Belei has always been correct. We had no doubts that we could collaborate, I consider her a professional”, Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei said.