About 35,000 children will go to school in the first grade this year, by approximately 1,000 fewer than last year. Minister of Education Leonid Bujor said this is due to demographic factors. “Unfortunately, the number of children in Moldova is decreasing,” the minister told a news conference. Leonid Bujor said 22,000 young people have been admitted to universities this year. The number of persons who will study on a contract basis rose by over 3,000, while of those whose studies will be financed from the budget decreased by about 300. Approximately 2,000 students were accepted to study in Romania, about 100 - in Russia, 105 – in Bulgaria, 100 – in Ukraine, 25 – in Turkey, while by 5 in China and Slovenia.