More than 7,200 students will be enrolled in the first grade in the 2014/2015 school year. The parents are urged to file applications to the school that is the nearest to their place of residence, by August 31.

Nina Butucea, coordinating inspector of the Chisinau General Education Division’s Preuniversity Management Section, has told IPN’s reporter that there are cases when the parents file complaints because the institutions to which they submit applications refuse to accept their children, arguing that there are no places. But the process is as transparent as possible.

“The parents who do not have a residence visa in Chisinau or the parents of children with special educational needs who feel discriminated are advised to file applications beforehand. The admission to institutions is transparent and there are no discrimination criteria,” said Nina Butucea.

Head of the General Education Division Tatiana Nagnibeda Tverdohleb said many children go abroad together with the parents and this is worrisome. “Over 300 children go annually abroad. Surely they go together with the parents, but this is a reason for concern,” she stated.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of students in primary and secondary education institutions decreased to 353,200 at the start of the 2013/2014 school year. The figure declined both in rural areas and in urban areas – by 19.9% and, respectively, 8% compared with the 2009/2010 school year.