A number of 64 schools were reorganized before the 2017-2018 school year and 19 schools were closed as a result. According to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, the reason for the closing is the low number of students at those schools. The authorities aim to work out a new conception to create branches of district schools for primary or secondary education only.
Head of the Pre-University Education Division Valentin Crudu has told IPN that the reorganization decision was reached by the district councils. There were closed the schools with 40 to 70 students. These were mainly secondary schools.
The situation concerning lyceums is also difficult. The regulations provide that the lyceum stage can exist only if two classes of at least 20 students are formed. Last year, of the 355 lyceums that admitted students, only 190 formed by two classes. The Ministry amended the regulations and enabled the district councils and divisions to take a decision as to the constitution of the lyceum stage if there are only 29-34 students. But these classes were opened on a number of conditions, taking into account the admission average, the average number of graduates and the Baccalaureate exam pass rate the previous sessions.
As to the conception to create branches of district schools, a relevant Government decision is being drafted and the project could be implemented starting with the next year of studies. According to Valentin Crudu, such a practice exists in the Baltic States and other countries. “These are a kind of clusters. There is the basic school that covers several communities where branches work so as not to transport the children when these branches can be maintained. The branch will not have director and vice director and the administration will be common. Moreover, this unit will be responsible for the whole education process in branches and its quality,” said the Division’s head.
A number of 1,224 primary and secondary schools and lyceums attended by about 334,000 children started work on September 1, 2017.
