The conditions for enrolling children in first grade have been modified. The Ministry of Education and Research states that the new methodology aligns with current legal and regulatory provisions and ensures the inclusion of all children. As a result, first-grade enrollment is open to Moldovan citizens from the diaspora, European Union citizens, foreign nationals, refugees, and children with special educational needs, IPN reports.
According to the document, all children residing within the designated school district who have turned seven years old by the start of the academic year must be enrolled in first grade without any competitive examinations. This includes children of Moldovan citizens from the diaspora, EU citizens, foreign nationals, and refugee families, who are allocated 10% of the total available spots.
Children with special educational needs will have a transition period from preschool to primary education, based on recommendations from specialists at the territorial psycho-pedagogical assistance structures within the Republican Center for Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance.
The transition process will take place in three stages, according to the schedule set by the Ministry of Education and Research: organizing the transition process, enrolling children in first grade, and monitoring the child’s adaptation to the school environment.
Children with special educational needs or disabilities who cannot be provided with the necessary conditions for educational inclusion in their local school will be enrolled only in institutions equipped to meet their needs, based on parental request.
For arts and sports-focused schools, the new regulations require aptitude tests to be conducted during the designated and approved enrollment periods for first-grade admissions.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, 1,185 institutions were operating in primary and general secondary education. These included 88 primary schools, 752 middle schools, 337 high schools, six schools for children with intellectual or physical disabilities, and two evening schools.
