The strengthening of the national educational system’s capacities to develop the knowledge and skills needed by students to become active and responsible citizens is a complex and multidimensional process. This is a priority of the partnership between the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, the Council of Europe and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in the framework of the Project “Education for Democracy in the Republic of Moldova” whose second phase was launched in Chisinau, IPN reports.
Minister of Education and Research Anatolie Topală said the importance and role of education in the promotion of equality, inclusion and democratic citizenship acquired increased importance. “Definitely, the actions planned for the next phase of the project derive also from the Ministry’s commitment under the Action Plan for EU Accession, regarding the building of the rule of law and of sustainable democracy, so that society works really democratically,” noted the minister.
Corina Lungu, senior consultant of the Ministry of Education and Research, said that a dimension of the project in 2019-2022 included the support for democratic governance in schools. The “Education for Society” subject was re-conceptualized and is now taught according to other contents. “At lessons, the students speak about the mass media, manipulation, corruption, about how elections to choose class managers can be held in a group of students,” she stated.
The second phase of the project includes elements designed to ensure the stability and sustainability of the results achieved at the first phase. “We want to insert the principles and end goals of the” Education for Society” subject in the curriculum existing in the primary classes without making changes,” noted Corina Lungu.
In 2019-2022, the Council of Europe Project “Education for Democracy in the Republic of Moldova” provided the much-needed support to the Ministry of Education and Research with the process of gradual implementation of the “Education for Society” subject intended for the fifth-twelfth graders.
Over the next four years, the Council of Europe will further support the integration of Council of Europe’s flagship Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture in the primary and secondary cycles, including the upper secondary technical education and vocational education and training, further strengthen national teacher education capacities and the professional competences of teachers, and support the implementation in schools of the methodology on the democratic school governance.
The Council of Europe Project “Education for Democracy in the Republic of Moldova” is implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova.
