School age population decreased because of migration

At the beginning of the school year 2005-2006, the number of the elementary and secondary education students constituted 517 thousand persons, decreasing by 5.4% comparing to the previous school year and by 17.8% comparing to 2000-2001. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the decrease of the school-age population was generated by the demographic evolutions of the last years, characterized by the natural decrease of the population and by the intensification of the extern migration. As well in the last years a decrease of the total number of schools was registered. The number of schools diminished from 1580 in 2002 to 1551 in 2006. If comparing to 2000 the share of Lyceums out of the total school units increased 2-fold and the share of the general culture schools decreased by 12%. The majority of students of the elementary and secondary school education – 99% attended the public schools. The private sector is less developed compared to other education levels. Out of 4998 students that attend the private schools, only 3.9% learn in the rural localities. The share of school-age population that studies in “Moldavian” language (according to NBS) is of 79.4%, in Russian-20.4% and other languages – 0.2%. Other languages studied in the elementary and secondary school education are Ukrainian, Bulgarian and English. 40.9 thousand Teachers ensured the instruction teaching of the students, of which 80.3% of the teaching staff is qualified personnel. The average salary in the education field in February amounted to 1230.3 lei, constituting 86.2% of the average country salary the constituted 1427.4 lei. The majority of schools – nearly 98% are public property. 28 private education institutions are functioning, including 24 lyceums and 4 gymnasiums. The number of gradates of the general schools and lyceums constitutes 30.6 thousand students and the number of students with special education requirements diminished from 5.1 thousands in 2000-2001 to 4.5 thousand in 2005-2006 school year.