Rascani district sums up education reform results after two years

Within the education reform started in 2009, which is aimed at ensuring education of a high quality in rural areas, seven education institutions have been reorganized in Rascani district – six secondary schools and one primary school. During a visit paid by officials of the Ministry of Education to the district, the head of the Rascani Education Division Viorel Dandara said no teacher of the reorganized schools remained without a job during the implementation of the Quality Education in the Rural Areas of Moldova Project. All of them were employed at district schools or other education institutions, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Viorel Dandara, no education institution was closed in the district. The schools were transformed into kindergarten, primary school or village library. In Damascani village, the school became library, while the local students are taken to the district school in the neighboring village Costesti. The Costesti school “Silvian Lucaci” is attended by first-fourth graders as well as students of upper grades. Before the reform started to be implemented, the fifth-twelfth graders went to the school in Petrosani village. Now they go to the district school in Costesti because they are taken to school by units of transport and enjoy more opportunities there. Viorel Dandara said the discussions held with the parents, students and teachers when the project began to be implemented were difficult. “But they all later accepted and approved of the priorities of the reform. During a year and a half, we experienced no incident in the district education institutions and received no complaint from parents! However, we have yet a lot of work to do to implement the structural reform, repair the roads, etc.,” he stated. Lilia Iachimciuc, head of the “Silvian Lucaci” school, said 101 students are brought daily to the school by units of transport from the neighboring villages. In 2009, the school was attended by 229 students studying in Romanian and 82 students studying in Russian. At the end of the 2010-2011 school year, the number of students studying in Russian remained unchanged, while of those studying in Romanian was 281. This year the number of students is expected to continue increasing. Speaking about the experience of implementing the structural reform, Lilia Iachimciuc referred to the new financing formula that enables the school heads to manage the budget together with the Administration Board. After the new financing method started to be used, they purchased new furniture and books for the school and repaired the water pipes and heating system. Irina Ureche, former teacher of the school in Damascani, said that as a result of the reorganization process she was employed at the district school in Costesti, while a colleague of hers was hired at the local kindergarten. She said it is much easier to work at the new school as the teachers there have their own offices and enjoy more possibilities. Eighth grader Gabriela Ureche from Dalmascani, who studies in Costesti, said she studied at the school in Petrosani from the first grade until the fifth grade and went there on foot, through the forest. But two years ago she transferred to the school in Costesti, where the conditions are much better. In the meeting held at the school “Silvian Lucaci”, Minister of Education Mihail Shleahtitski said the reform should be implemented by the concerted effort of the Ministry of Education, the local public authorities, managers of education institutions, teachers and parents. “No teacher remained out of work in Rascani district. The reorganized institutions will not be closed, but transformed as in Damascani village. This reform is very important and necessary as it focuses on our children,” said the minister. There are about 6 300 students in Rascani district at present.