Public officials learn Romanian

About 500 public officials from settlements with multiethnic population now speak the official language. Twenty teachers taught them Romanian during three years as part of a project to teach state language to national minorities launched by IDIS ”Viitorul” in 2005, Info-Prim Neo reports. Initially, the participants in the courses are interviewed to see what knowledge of Romanian they have. “The 500 officials learnt the first and second levels and should pass to the third level, but this will happen when we have support from the Government because its has contributed no money to the courses so far,” the director of the National Association of European Trainers of Moldova (ANTEM) Lucia Cucu has told Info-Prim Neo. At the end of every stage, the officials take exams. To date, Romanian language courses were taught to officials in Comrat, Ceadar-Lunga, Taraclia, Vulcanesti, Cahul, Balti, Drochia, and Soroca. ANTEM also plans to teach courses to public officials and employees working in the budgetary sphere in Congaz, Basarabeasca, Ocnita, Briceni, and Chisinau. Lucia Cucu said that the about 500 officials have shown increased interest in these classes because they feel the need to learn the state language. “They encounter serious problems as they must pay bills and read the legislation in Romanian.” Deputy mayor of Balti municipality Alexandru Usatai said that after he learnt Romanian he can better fulfill his duties. “When I became public official, I understood that I must learn Romanian. I am permanently in the middle of events and in the center of attention, so I have to know the language of this state. Besides, when you learn a language, you enrich your inner world,” he said. The Association founded in 2005 to organize Romanian language courses will also teach Romanian to the Moldovans residing on the left bank of the Nistru from September this year. According to the ANTEM director, the Moldovans in Transnistria expressed interest in learning Romanian. The state language will provide them access to information, including mass media.” The state language teaching project was implemented with the support of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Lucia Cucu said that ANTEM is expecting the Government to respond to their requests for financial support to continue the project.