As of this September, the fifth-twelfth graders could study a new school subject called Education for Legal Socialization. Official of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research said the new subject is aimed at preventing offenses among minors. Police officers will be present at the classes, IPN reports.

In a response to an inquiry made by IPN News Agency, the General Police Inspectorate said that 606 offenses were committed by minors and with their participation in 2020, as against 664 in 2019. This way, about 3% of the offenses registered in the Republic of Moldova are committed by minors or with their participation. The less serious crimes committed by minors totaled 893. These are followed by serious offenses (167) and minor offenses (64), exceptionally serious offenses (7) and specially grave crimes (6).

Of all the offenses committed by minors or with their participation in 2020, 341 were thefts, 40 – burglaries, 24 – acts of hooliganism, 13 – sexual offenses, four - offenses related to drugs and another four – intentional causing of bodily injuries.

Seventy-four offences committed by minors or with their involvement were committed in the first two months of this year, an increase of about 27% compared with the similar period last year.

Corina Lungu, senior consultant of the Ministry of Education, said the Education for Legal Socialization will be aimed at developing legal culture among students and at changing the attitude to the police. The police officers will come to school not only when an offense is committed, but also to inform and show how these offenses can be prevented.

According Corina Lungu, a working group consisting of representatives of the General Police Inspectorate and teachers drew up the curricular package needed for teaching this subject that was piloted in eighth-grade classes in 11 districts during this school year and is to be piloted in the tenth-twelfth grades.

At the legal socialization classes, the students will learn about penalties and serving of punishment, security in the family, at school and in the online environment, aspects of a life free from violence, aspects of delinquent and deviant behavior, labor exploitation, trafficking in human beings, psycho-emotional extremes.

To be taught in education institutions in Moldova, the new subject should be approved by the National Curriculum Council. The course is optional. Such a subject is now taught at schools in Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and other states.