Not all schools are sanitarily and epidemiologically ready for new school year

Not all the schools are ready for the new school year from sanitary and epidemiological viewpoints. The authorities have not even finished assessing the situation in all the institutions. The final results will be made public until August 25, Info-Prim Neo reports. Deputy Minister of Health Boris Golovin said that upon inspections they identified shortcomings that have a negative impact on the education process and on the health of the students and teachers. According to the deputy minister, the sanitary and epidemiological condition of the toilets in more than 100 schools leaves much to be desired. Twenty of these schools are in Ungheni district, 16 in Rascani, 12 in Calarasi, 11 in Orhei, 9 in Basarabeasca district, 8 in Chisinau, 8 in Soroca, 7 in Glodeni and 6 in Donduseni. Many school roofs have not been repaired and some of the schools do not have the necessary electric lighting and the second row of glasses at windows, Boris Golovin said. The drinking water supply in schools is also a serious problem. The authorities say that not all the schools have medical units, while those that exist do not have the necessary equipment and medicines. The schools in Soroca, Falesti, Floresti, Basarabeasca, Calarasi and other districts lack medical personnel. The inspections revealed that the sanitary condition of school cafeterias is also not up to standards. The technological and refrigeration equipment in cafeterias is worn-out. There is a shortage of plates and dishes and detergents, the deputy minister said. Over 1,500 schools will work in Moldova during the 2008-2009 academic year. Repair works on the roofs, buildings, classrooms and canteens are carried out in all of them. The schools are outfitted with the necessary equipment. The sanitary and epidemiological preparedness of the pre-university education institutions for the new school year is assessed by joint commissions composed of specialists of education divisions, representatives of mayors’ offices and of the state sanitary-epidemiological service. The assessment of schools started on August 11.