All schools switch to new financing formula

Starting with this year, all the schools in Moldova will use a new financing formula. They will receive money from the state depending on the number of students. The new methodology covers all the costs, except those for food, the mandatory preparation of children for school and the extensive repair works. According to the Ministry of Education, the new financing method has two components: per student and per institution. Under the fist component, every student will get by about 6,000 lei this year. Under the second component, the schools and lyceums with more than 91 children will be allotted additionally almost 387,000 lei. The calculations are done by the district councils. There will be covered the costs for paying the teachers and ancillary staff, maintaining the education institutions and for developing and improving the schools’ teaching and material base, as well as all the services. The costs for doing extensive repair works and for feeding the children will be covered from the budgets of the municipal or district councils. The money for the purpose will be allocated not to the local public administration of the first level, but to the education institutions directly and will be managed by the principals. The Ministry of Education said the new financing methodology will not affect the teacher pay policy. The salaries are set by law and cannot be reduced with the aim of saving budget money. However, when savings are made, the principals will be able to allocate a part of the money for paying bonuses to teachers’ salaries. In 2010, the methodology was applied on a trial basis in Causeni and Rascani districts, while from January 1, 2012 also in the districts of Criuleni, Cantemir, Calarasi, Nisporeni, Taraclia, Stefan-Voda, Glodeni, Leova, and Sangerei, and in the municipalities of Balti and Chisinau.