Two weeks are left until the first bell ceremony, as the education system is practically ready to welcome children into school and kindergarten classes. This year, larger investments were made in infrastructure – buildings, classrooms, heating systems, furniture, ventilation systems, canteens. How the municipality prepared for the cold season, what will it do in the event of Russia cutting gas supplies were among the subjects discussed during an IPN debate.
Andrei Pavaloi, deputy head of Chisinau’s Directorate of Education, said that this year the educational institutions in the municipality enjoyed increased attention from the City Hall: previously the amount allocated for current and extensive repairs in educational institutions was 50 million lei annually, whereas this year 169.4 million lei has been allocated.
Zinaida Popa, PAS municipal councilor from, says that education is a priority for her group. PAS supported the mapping of each institution to see where deficiencies are. What PAS wants is for the money to be fairly distributed in educational institutions and for there to be a long-term strategic plan.
Deputy Mayor Angela Cutasevici referred to schooling issues. If in 2017-2018 there were 85.2 thousand students in schools, in 2020-2021 there were 93.4 thousand, and in 2021-2022 – 96.5 thousand students. An increase of about 3000 children is recorded annually. The possibilities of expanding the school spaces are being evaluated. Similarly in kindergartens, by opening groups where possible.
The needs of the educational system are much greater than what the municipality can allocate, despite a threefold increase in spending in recent years, says Angela Cutasevici. The spending is primarily to ensure the minimum conditions: that it’s warm in classes, that there are no air leaks, that the toilets and the canteens are in working order. Investments are also made in equipping institutions with teaching materials. A priority is the child’s development. The municipality’s financial effort is also very high in related services, such as profile classes, the expenses being fully covered by municipal money.
Natalia Alexei, director of Kindergarten no. 158, said that for this year, the kindergarten requested the repair of two bathrooms, for which it received 400,000 lei. The works are already completed. The kindergarten’s savings were also used. Tree trimming is now taking place on the kindergarten’s territory. Starting from August 24, until August 30, the kindergarten will be closed in order to carry out deratization and disinsection works and the sanitization of the premises.
