The primary and secondary schools and lyceums can apply to have their sanitary facilities renovated or built. A number of 100 institutions will be chosen to benefit from full support to improve the water supply and sewerage conditions. The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2023. The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Education and Research in partnership with UNICEF Moldova, IPN reports.

To take part in the contest, the managers of institutions need to fill out a form. “The right to water and sanitation is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate. The UNICEF programs to rehabilitate sanitary facilities in schools, which cover over 90 countries and reach 3 million children a year on average, are essential for ensuring that each child has the opportunity for healthier and more decent education. We believe the access to water and sanitation is not a privilege, but a fundamental right for each child,” said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Moldova Country Representative.

The Ministry of Education and Research said that 178 educational institutions had problems related to access to water and sanitation at the beginning of this year. In 60 primary and secondary schools and lyceums of these, the sanitary facilities are being built or renovated. In 25 institutions, the works are performed with funds from the state budget, seven institutions benefit from UNICEF support, while 28 institutions are supported by district councils and other development partners. Another 118 institutions will benefit from such works in 2024. The estimated costs of 143 million lei will be covered by UNICEF and the World Bank. The total budget of the program is of about 85 million lei. The program is implemented with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany through the agency of the German bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).