Moldova: Communists and Socialists Protest Education Crisis
Members of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BCS) staged a protest today, May 24th, in the Moldovan capital's downtown area.
They voiced their opposition to the education policies implemented by Minister Dan Perciun. The BCS accuses the government of driving the education system to a "catastrophic" state. Contacted for comment, the Ministry of Education and Research spokeswoman, Angela Motruc, declined to comment on the opposition's "political statements."
The BCS parliamentary group leader, socialist Vlad Bătrîncea, criticised the government's decision to merge several educational institutions. He also expressed disapproval of the planned merger between the Technical University of Moldova (UTM) and the State University of Moldova (USM). Bătrîncea further accused Minister Perciun of exerting undue pressure on local governments. "This minister has ruined everything," Bătrîncea remarked.
Other BCS parliamentarians joined the protest. They argue that the ministry's actions are not geared towards national development or education, but rather towards the "destruction" of the education system. "No school closures!" the crowd chanted.
While declining to comment directly on the opposition's claims, Angela Motruc stated that the Ministry of Education may issue a response from Minister Dan Perciun at a later time.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
