Chisinau high schools switch to a different financing system

A new system of financing the preuniversity education institutions in the municipality of Chisinau will be implemented from January 1, 2012, the head of the Division of Education, Youth and Sport Tatiana Nagnibeda-Tverdohleb announced in the annual conference of Chisinau teachers, Info-Prim Neo reports. Currently, all the schools get by an equal sum from the budget. From next year, financing will depend on the number of students. About 6,100 lei will be allocated yearly for a student. Tatiana Nagnibeda-Tverdohleb said the new financing system will allow every institution to enjoy financial autonomy. On the other hand, this financing formula implies increased responsibility on the part of the managers of the education institutions. “The sum allotted for a student is still low. The managers will have to develop their abilities so as to be able to deal with all the kinds of problems. The results will depend on the management efficiency,” she stated. Boris Volosatyi, head of the High School “Gheorghe Asachi”, said he is in favor of financial autonomy in schools, even if this is a difficult process. “This financing formula puts greater responsibility on the shoulders of the school managers, who are not prepared. Therefore, this switch should be accompanied by training seminars for managers,” he said. Director of the High School “Univers Lions” Angela Muntean said she backs the new financing method, but realizes the responsibility it implies. She considers that a number of difficulties will be encountered at the beginning as there must be learned many new things. “We already participated in a training seminar for managers. More such seminars are to be held,” said Angela Muntean. Maria Yarmenko, head of the sports school No. 2, said the new formula will enable the managers to monitor the costs, but there are many unclear aspects. “We have not been yet informed about the method of financing sports schools. This method applies to high schools only,” she said. The Chisinau administration proposed the new financing formula at the start of this year. Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca said such a system is effectively implemented in Georgia. Every institution will have to independently hold procurement tender contests and bear responsibility for the distribution of money. The mayor expressed his conviction that this way the schools will tend to save more money. The spending for education this year amounts to 932 million lei, which is 40% of the budget expenditure.