Kindergartens renovation project under way

The Ministry of Education and Youth (MET) plans to renovate 48 preschool educational units by December 2007. The renovation works are under way in 25 localities across the country. The reconstruction of kindergartens and alternative educational centres is part of the project “Education for All – Fast Track Initiative”. The establishments will be also provided with furniture, learning materials and toys. Some other 150 kindergartens will receive, selectively, toys, board games and books. In addition, at the first stage of the project, all the kindergartens in the country will be provided with new books for children. If the first stage of the project is successful and meets the schedule requirements, in the next two years MET will receive funding to make changes in other educational institutions across the country as well. To implement the project, Moldova received in 2006 financing in the amount of 4.4 million dollars from the Catalytic Trust Fund. The funds are administrated by the World Bank. The project is implemented by MET as part of the Consolidated Action Plan for Education for 2006-2008, in partnership with UNICEF and UNESCO. Moldova has 1328 kindergartens attended by nearly 120,000 children. The attendance rate is at present of 55.4 percent, and compulsory education for the children aged 5-7 is provided at an 85 percent rate.