The quality of education influences the economic and social development of the country. The declining number of graduates who choose to continue their studies at higher education establishments points to the precarious situation in the national education system. The over-dimensioned infrastructure against the number of students, knowledge and skills developed by each higher education institution remains uncorrelated with the labor market demand, said participants in the public videoconference titled “Higher education in the Republic of Moldova at a crossroads or wasted money?”. The event was organized by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Moldova, IPN reports.
According to Ana Mihailov, executive director of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Moldova, the discussion was held in connection with a recently approved World Bank loan of about US$40 million that is designed to contribute to increasing the quality of higher education. The loan will have a reduced impact if radical structural and institutional reforms are not done in the higher education system.
Professor of the State University “Dimitrie Cantemir” Sergiu Lipcean,” author of the study “Higher education in the Republic of Moldova at a crossroads or wasted money?”, said the education system in Moldova follows a downward trend and the loan will be very useful to the system. There are yet very big risks related to the implementation of this project at the level of policy, governance, sector and interested factors.
Sergiu Lipcean noted the number of students decreased dramatically during the last few years. There are now about 47,000 students who study on a budget-funded place and on a contract basis at the national universities. If the pace of decline remains the same, in ten years the system will have at most 12,000 students and the costs of training per student will continue to rise.
Rector of the Academy of Economic Studies Grigore Belostecinic said positive things have been witnessed in the higher education system during the past few years, like joining of the Bologna Process, drafting of a new Education Code, opening of career guidance centers, management changes and involvement in European projects. Besides the decline in the number of students, the number of those who aim to build a career in higher education also decreases, while the number of those who abandon higher education in favor of other activities increases. To be improved, the system needs more investments in research, innovation and motivation for teachers and students.
Viorel Bostan, rector of the Technical University, noted that systemic measures should be taken to remedy the situation. A transparent and correct mechanism is needed, based on university financing data that would take into account the specific features and the number of students. The WB loan is like a breath of fresh air for the national universities. If the project is not implemented, the future of the higher education system will be rather gloomy, but this project should go hand in hand with the changes taking place in the system.
