Most schools intend to switch on their heating systems in November, after the fall break, but some have requested the service earlier. According to the Ministry of Education and Research, there are requests from two schools in Anenii Noi district indicating the start of the heating season on October 30, and from a school in Călărași, requesting the service from as early as October 18, Radio Europa Liberă reported.

In 13 of Moldova’s 32 districts, at least one school cannot start the heating season for various reasons. In Cantemir district alone, four schools and kindergartens simply cannot afford heating, or paying salaries, for that matter.

“They had received funds for salaries and for heating. But for other needs, not so much. But additional transfers will be made from the state budget”, says Valentina Ceapa, senior consultant at the Directorate of General Education. She added that only the schools connected to district heating or that operate natural gas-burning systems are fully prepared for the cold season.

Those with stoves or boilers must be provided with firewood, coal, briquettes or pellets. The supply of solid fuel is made for a whole year. Accordingly, these institutions should use the remaining stocks from the 2022-2023 season or wait for new transfers, after the approval of the state budget for 2024.

About 1,500 of the 2,500 schools in Moldova have gas-based heating systems or are connected to district heating. More than 700 have autonomous boilers based on solid fuel and 21 still have stoves. One school and two kindergartens have geothermal heating systems.