At the beginning of the school year over 15 thousand families in Moldova received material aid from the Republican Fund and local funds for social support. Material aid totalling about 3 million lei was granted mainly to families with four or more children, single parent families and those with low income. Also, aid was given to children who lost their parents of guardians, un-institutionalised orphans, disabled children, and children in family-type orphanages. The ratio of the aid was different in each case, depending on the available social supporting fund; however, the sum constituted at least 100 lei for each recipient.