University rectors plead for the immediate accreditation of universities and call on the Ministry of Education to take the necessary steps to empower the National Council for Attestation and Accreditation to assess university programs and to examine and ensure the quality of studies, IPN reports.

During hearings on the bill with amendments to the Education Law that were held by the parliamentary commission on education, the rectors said the creation of a national quality ensuring agency for vocational and higher education implies time and money. Therefore, it is better to reorganize the National Council for Attestation and Accreditation.

“This agency can be founded by restructuring the National Council for Attestation and Accreditation, without creating a separate organization. Its administration should be named by presidential decree,” said the rector of the Technical University of Moldova Ion Bostan.

Minister of Education Maia Sandu said that unlike the National Council for Attestation and Accreditation, which is controlled by the state, the National Quality Ensuring Agency will be autonomous. “The National Council for Attestation and Accreditation will continue to monitor the research education. It is unable to fully assess higher education,” she stated.

MP Ana Gutu said the National Quality Ensuring Agency should have been created in 2005, when Moldova signed the Bologna Process. “We are now in 2013. How many years should pass for such an agency to be finally founded?” she asked.

The lawmakers and rectors agreed that they will formulate more proposals. The bill to amend the Education Law was approved by the Government and is examined by the parliamentary commissions.