The teachers have a narrow understanding of the phenomenon of violence against children. Some of the district and municipal education divisions report cases of abuse that are mainly unjustified, while others either hush up serious cases of violence or do not monitor them, Minister of Education Maia Sandu said when presenting the Ministry’s first report on child abuse, IPN reports.

In March – May 2013, there were reported over 3,700 cases of abuse against students, including 1,400 cases of physical abuse and 18 cases of a sexual character. The analysis of the data shows that the education divisions didn’t report many cases of negligence, sexual abuse and labor exploitation. There were mainly identified and reported cases of abuse by grownups, including employees of the education system. “There were some loud cases that involved directors. They were dismissed. We informed the Prosecutor’s Office, which is to investigate these cases,” said the minister.

“Every case of abuse will be examined, while the persons to blame will be penalized in accordance with the law,” stated Maia Sandu.

The first quarterly report of the Ministry of Education was compiled based on reports presented by district and municipal education divisions.