R. Moldova will be granted USD 13 mln for the improvement of children’s access to pre-school education

The Republic of Moldova will be granted USD 13 mln by Catalytic Foundation, created by the World Bank for the improvement of children’s access to pre-school education. The Foundation collects financial resources from donors on purpose of achieving the millennium objectives, especially of the project “Education for all”. Vice Minister of Education and Youth, Viorelia Moldovan-Batranac, told Info-Prim Neo that within an international conference of the end of 2005 year, the Foundation has reckoned pre-school education as one of the lowest financed sector. The funds will be assigned for 3 years by USD 4.4 mln, depending on the progress achieved at each transaction. These resources will ensure quality services in kindergartens, development of inclusive education, meaning the access to normal institutions for children with disabilities, improvement of pre-school education program, and improvement of teaching staff according to the education program changes. The optimization of the kindergartens’ spaces is also an issue; it is proposed to be renovated 33 kinder gardens, one for each raion, in the first year. The space optimization is aimed to ensure the access to pre-school education of the pre-school-age children, according to the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (EGPRSP). There are a big number of children which do not go to school because of space insufficiency, according to Vice Minister. More than that, the creation of approximately 50 community centers of European type is planned in small villages, where there are no kindergartens. These are aimed to offer alternative services, and children will be able to visit them on Saturdays and Sundays in order to obtain the necessary education and have access to books and toys. Their parents will obtain necessary training in preparing their children for school. The centers will only offer informational services, unlike classic kindergartens, that offer full alimentation and a place to sleep. Three kindergartens, which need the most the benefits of this project, and are more attractive in terms of sustainability and potential have been evaluated till now in each raion center. According to the Vice-minister, the Government will at the same time examine the possibility to assign USD 50 thousands for a kindergarten. The contribution of the local budget will constitute 15%. Municipalities are not eligible, but will benefit from instruction given to teachers and, possibly, logistic support. The first transaction of the Catalytic Fund is planned for the end of October at most.