Deadline for public debates on Education bill has been extended

The deadline for public debates on the draft Education Code has been extended by 10 days. “It is for the first time that a document is so actively discussed in Moldovan society. The previous education code, which didn't pass the vote in Parliament, was not presented to teachers, who were instead told to read it in the paper”, said Education Minister Leonid Bujor. The minister said discussions on the bill will continue until the end of May, after which teachers from across Moldova will come together at an assembly and decide on the pre-final version of the document, which will be then submitted to the Government for consideration. To facilitate public debates, the bill was multiplied in 3,000 copies and distributed among education establishments throughout the country. The bill is also available on the Ministry's web site at www.edu.md. The Education Code aims to replace the old Education Law of 1995. The Code introduces constituency schools and technical vocational education, as well as doctoral schools. A key proposal is that education financing should make up at least 8 percent of the GDP.