The common vision of Romania and the Republic of Moldova is to invest a lot in the young people who opt for a teaching career, whether they are from Moldova or Romania, because teaching is not a profession only where you learn particular occupations or skills.  It is a profession where you also have to take risks, Mariana Marin, president of the Moldova branch of the General Association of Teachers of Romania, an associate professor of the Moldova State University and of “Ion Creanga” State Teacher Training University, stated in a public debate hosted by IPN News Agency.

According to Mariana Marin, the teacher training schools earlier organized admission tests based on the teaching skills. This is how the generation of the 1990s of teachers was admitted. Today, the available technology can replace some skills. But it is essential for teachers to be role models in front of students through emotional intelligence.

In another development, the university lecturer noted that in recent years, there have been several integrated disciplines on the European curriculum agenda, such as history and geography, physics, biology, STEM disciplines. In Romania, in primary classes, an integration of subjects has been performed for several years. She is interested in this subject because the agenda of the Ministry of Education of Moldova contains a curricular reform specifically on the integration segment. Interesting experiences and practices can be taken from Romania, such as STEM practices, which should be integrated into university disciplines as well. Moldova is interested in inspiring each other with Romania in the digitalization and integrated curriculum sectors.

The new version of the curriculum in the Republic of Moldova, the vocational part, is not expressly stipulated. Emphasis is placed on updating the curriculum on the digital side. Mariana Marin believes that the previous curriculum was a very good one, but the pandemic followed and this had to be rethought in order to revise the contents, the methods. This curriculum focuses on the professions of the future. In 2022, artificial intelligence came and the new professions are focused on AI thus. The curriculum is aimed at ensuring that the future adult always finds other connections, possibilities to learn and earn money.

As for primary classes and the Romanian language and literature, Moldova seeks to synchronize its steps with Romania’s. Such new topics as diction, communication, verbal and nonverbal communication, identity competence have been added to the current edition of Moldova’s curriculum. They would like Romania to add to its curriculum personalities from Moldova who promoted Romanianism so that these are known in Romania, and Moldova can also come up with a project to promote Moldovan personalities.

The public debate entitled “Educational bridges between Romania and the Republic of Moldova” was the 15th installment of the project “Double integration through cooperation and information. Continuity”, funded by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova. The content of this debate does not represent the official position of the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova.