Ministry of Education announces new optional subject

The Ministry of Education recommends educational institutions to introduce a new optional subject called “Decisions for a healthy lifestyle”. During the academic year 2011-2012, the subject was tested in 97 secondary vocational and specialized education establishments, on at least one group of first-year students, Info-Prim Neo reports. Deputy Minister of Education Loretta Handrabura told the press that the Minister saluted the implementation of this subject in schools, professional lyceums and colleges, especially in the first year of study, because pupils come here in their adolescence, a period of physical, emotional, cognitive and social changes. “They are at a stage when they have to take many decisions that regard them personally and some that regard the community”, she said. The Ministry of Education implemented the pilot project in collaboration with the Training Center CMB. CMB director Veronica Cretu says that the subject offers answers to many questions about a healthy lifestyle- what situations threaten one’s health, how to identify and prevent such risks, etc. The subject tackles the issue of sexuality, which is an important aspect of the teenagers’ life. So far, 2960 pupils attended the classes. The public institution “Unity through coordination, implementation and monitoring of the restructuring of the healthcare system”, which is financed by the Global Fund for Moldova, also contributed to the implementation of the project.