The vocational education and training (VET) institutions of Moldova are better prepared to work in conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The students, nurses and teachers of these schools took part in a broad training program centering on how to ensure the educational process during the COVID-19 pandemic, IPN reports, quoting a press release of UNFPA
The sessions focused on the formation of professional skills in ensuring the security of the educational process at these institutions, early detection and the measures needed in case of an eventual hotbed. The specialists were informed how to ensure the educational process during the pandemic, while the students were explained models of appropriate behavior at the education institution, at home and in the community.
Corina Costiuc, school psychologist of the Vocational School of Cupcini village of Edineț district, after the training staged an instructive-methodological meeting involving all the teachers of the school together with the nurse. “We discussed personal protection, the teachers’ behavior in relation to students in the classroom, during the break, in the canteen, in the dorm, at practical lessons, the triage at all entrances, etc. and we coordinate and monitor for all these rules to be respected and applied,” stated Corina Costiuc.
Elena Tipa, nurse of the Nisporeni vocational school, said the communication with the others and the way in which particular information is presented are very important. “Sometimes, the dramatist in communication can stress the interlocutor, creating a state of panic. This training taught me how to have more efficient communication with students, whom I can now easier convince to help each other by obeying simple, but efficient rules,” stated Elena Tipa.
The students who took part in the seminar also said that the courses were useful to them. Ludmila Muntean, student of the Orhei Lyceum “Vasile Lupu”, said she learned many new things that changed her view to the myths and false information about the COVID-19 pandemic disseminated by some of the media outlets.
Dmitri Iacobuță, student of the Polytechnic College of Bălți municipality, noted the initiative was opportune for informing a large number of people before the start of the school year. “We learned the rules of behaving at the education institution. The presented information will help me obey the rules and to inform the other mates, my parents, friends,” he stated.
As part of the same initiative, with UNFPA’s support, there was worked out a Guidebook for students of vocational education institutions in the context of the epidemiological situation due to COVID-19, which was distributed to all the VETs of Moldova.
Currently, the VETs are attended by over 40,000 students. The educational process there takes place online and in classrooms.
