40% the Moldovan young people who took part in the poll “Future Priorities of the Youth” that was launched by UN through the platform U-Report Moldova UNICEF want more employment opportunities and high-quality jobs. Among the acute problems mentioned by the young people are the quality of education – 27%, opportunities for civic engagement – 13% and discrimination – 12%. Each third person mentioned the necessity of school development programs at education institutions, IPN reports.

A press release of the UN says the poll also showed that the 38% of the young people in the Republic of Moldova believe that the national education system does not ensure skills for the future. 21% could not say something about the system. Among the new objectives that the youth would like to include in the school program are: entrepreneurial education (44%), information technology and informatics (22%) and applied math or sciences (11%).

The financial difficulties are a persistent preoccupation among the young people. One in five (21%) respondents considers that the reduction of poverty and inequities should become the Government’s priorities for the next five years. By 15% plead for education and medical assistance. Each fifth respondent believes the people who live in poverty and those with special needs more often face discrimination. By 13% of those surveyed place the Roma and the people of the LGBTIQ+ community at the top of the discrimination rankings.

The poll reveals that only 13% of the young people are often involved in the decisions that influence their future in the own community. 36% said the youth are not involved in the decision-making process. Only 29% of the young people form part of volunteer organizations, 49% of which are youth organizations, 19 % are related to the environment, while 9% to the emancipation of women and gender equality. However, 43% of the uninvolved young people said they would like to become involved in internships or volunteering.

Young people’s suggestions will be analyzed and taken into account when working out the new UN-Moldova long-term development cooperation framework.

The poll was carried out on the initiative of UN Moldova with the assistance of UNICEF on August 18. It covered 2 279 persons aged between 11 and 35+, 32% of whom were male, while 68% were female.