The ethnic minorities of Moldova realize now the necessity of studying the Romanian language to a greater extent. The linguistic training program provided gratis to public servants by the National Association of European Trainers (ANTEM) is popular, but has insufficient funds for meeting all the needs. Related issues were discussed in the conference “Linguistic integration of the national minorities of the Republic of Moldova according to European standards” that was held by ANTEM at IPN.
ANTEM director Lucia Cucu said the association provides modern courses in traditional format and at a distance structured according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 66% of the students of ANTEM are Ukrainians, 17% are Russians, while 10% are Moldovans. The program covers both beginners and intermediate speakers who, for personal or professional reasons, want to improve their Romanian. “We have textbooks for jurists, economics, PR specialists, doctors, police officers and those from the education system,” stated Lucia Cucu.
ANTEM has a team of 50 trainers who work in all the country’s districts, including Transnistria. “We have teachers to extend the training program in the Transnistrian region, but are unable to do this yet,” said Lucia Cucu.
She announced that ANTEM worked out a test for assessing knowledge of the Romanian language and will issue a relevant certificate recognized by the Ministry of Education. It will be like a TOEFL for the Romanian langrage. The test will be used both for other-language speakers from Moldova and for foreigners who obtain Moldovan nationality.
Lucia Cucu noted that owing to the lack of funds and the shortage of teachers, ANTEM this year could involve only 500 of the 3,000 applicants in the Romanian language studying program. The association needs about 1 million lei a year more to be able to satisfy the demand.
Eugenia Mandaji, head of the Taraclia General Division of Education, Youth and Sport, said they need specialists who would teach Romanian at an upper level. Even the Romanian language teachers need refresher courses. For many, the studying and speaking of the Romanian language represent psychological barriers and special teaching approaches are needed, based on practical communication situations. “We are making effort to help the public servants overcome these fears that prevent them from speaking in another language, in the official language of the state,” she stated.
Ludmila Burlaca, head of the interethnic relations and language functioning division of the Interethnic Relations Bureau, said the Bureau is working on the national strategy for integrating the ethnic minorities that will include a section devoted to linguistic integration. The cooperation relations between the Interethnic Relations Bureau and ANTEM are good and the Bureau intends to fully finance the Romanian language studying program in several years. Currently, the Government of Moldova finances only 30% of the program through the Bureau and the grants program of the Ministry of Youth and Sport. The other 70% of the funds are provided by the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
Founded in 2005, ANTEM was officially registered in 2008, becoming a promoter of the studying of the official language by the ethnic minorities of Moldova. The association’s activities are carried out within partnerships with the OSCE, the Austrian Development Agency, the Institute fort Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”, the Interethnic Relations Bureau, the authorities of Gagauzia, the local public authorities and the Teacher Training University “Ion Creanga”.
