Some experts consider the adoption by the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia of another Education Code than the one that works at national level is a right of the region, while others say that this right is a flagrant violation. Contradictory opinions on the issue were stated in the talk show “Fabrika” on Publika TV channel in the evening of May 3. The panel discussed some of the provisions of the Code, including the regional authorities’ right to organize contests to fill the posts of school principals and studying of the history of the Gagauz people mandatorily in the Gagauz language, IPN reports.
Director of the Chisinau Lyceum “Vasile Alecsandri” Daniela Vacarciuc considers the adoption by the authorities of Gagauzia of the own Education Code is a flagrant violation. These actions show that the central authorities do not have a value before the local authorities of Gagauzia. A constructive dialogue is needed between Chisinau and Comrat so as to educate a generation that will help everyone live better.
Ex-MP Valentin Crylov stated that in accordance with the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia, the People’s Assembly has the right to adopt local laws. This is a local law and the consent of the central authorities is not needed in such cases. If the Government considers that this law runs counter to the constitutional provisions, it can go to the Constitutional Court.
Expert in educational policies Dragos Vicol considers that this act represents regulations rather than an Education Code. These regulations should have been passed in summer as their adoption in this period of the school year will place all the graduates from the region on alert. The so-called safeguarding of the Gagauz language by this code is only a shield as there are political interests behind it actually.
According to the expert, there is insufficient communication between the Ministry of Education and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia in this case. To resolve the created situation, the representatives of the Ministry of Education should not adopt an ostentatious attitude, but should travel to Comrat to see what the problems are and to try and solve them.
Media analyst Cristian Tabara noted that there is a communication rupture between Chisinau and Comrat. Though the law does not oblige the local authorities of Gagauzia to consult the central authorities about the adoption of this Code, such discussions and consultations should have existed.
In a press release, the Ministry of Education expressed its disapproval of the adoption of another Education Code in Gagauzia in two readings on April 28. The Ministry’s representatives said the bill wasn’t discussed with civil society either. These consider that the way in which the Education Law of Gagauzia was drafted and passed shows defiance of the central authorities of Moldova. The Ministry intends to inform the Government and Parliament about the created situation.
