Furniture in schools is a health hazard, CNSP

In most of the schools in Moldova the furniture used by the students does not correspond to the standards, stated for Info-Prim Neo Mariana Tutunaru, head of the Healthcare, Children and Youth Division of the National Public Healthcare Center (CNSP). Because of substandard furniture, children may develop osteo-articular, muscular, and connective tissue pathologies, as well as scoliosis. Maria Tutunaru communicated that a letter has been sent to the territorial public healthcare centers, which, in turn, will forward it to educational institutions, as well as school furniture producers, in order to notify them of the standard requests imposed. “For the future it is planned to evaluate the sketches of furniture to be purchased according to the student’s parameters”, added the CNSP Section head. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Tatian Poting, Deputy Minister of Education, stated that this issue is not the responsibility of the Ministry. “Supplying the educational institutions with material means is part of the local public authorities’ obligations, as provided in the Law on Local Public Authorities. The school is financed by the local public authorities, which are responsible for ensuring the institution’s material basis”, said the Deputy Minister. Tatiana Poting added that the Minister of Education deals with educational policies, not furniture-related issues. According to a Governmental order regarding the approval and implementation of state sanitary-epidemiological norms and rules, titled “The hygiene of elementary, middle and high school institutions”, each student is provided with a workplace at a desk, which should correspond to his/her height while in footwear, visual and auditory acuity.