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Moldova Merges Vocational Schools Amid Enrollment Drop

Six vocational schools and two colleges in Moldova are scheduled to be merged into other vocational education institutions as part of a government initiative.

The draft decision for these mergers is expected to be approved by the cabinet this Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Education and Minister Dan Perciun, the primary reason for these consolidations is the declining student enrollment figures across these institutions, resulting in inefficient use of state budgetary resources allocated for their upkeep.

The project outlines specific mergers, including the Center of Excellence in Services and Food Processing in Bălți, which will absorb the Vocational School from Alexăndreni, Sângerei district. Similarly, the “Gheorghe Asachi” College from Lipcani will be integrated into the “Ion Creangă” Pedagogical College in Bălți. In another instance, the Vocational School from Cupcini, Edineț, will merge with the Vocational School from Corbu, Dondușeni district. The plan also calls for the merger of the Vocational School from Glodeni with its counterpart from Râșcani. Furthermore, the Ministry proposes the consolidation of the Vocational School from Orhei with those from Rezina and Telenești. Finally, the Vocational School from Ceadîr-Lunga in the Gagauz Autonomy will be reorganised through the absorption of the Vocational School from Vulcănești.

The Ministry of Education has assured that the educational process at these institutions will continue uninterrupted until all current students graduate. They have also clarified that admissions will continue at some of the affected institutions this year, with classes held at their existing locations within their respective districts.

Minister Perciun explained that the motivations behind these mergers are multifaceted, encompassing instances of fraud, mismanagement, and even embezzlement of public funds. He has further emphasised that there will be no teacher layoffs, at least not in the initial stages. The Ministry maintains that an efficient vocational education institution requires a minimum student enrollment of 350. Currently, only 26 out of 77 such institutions in Moldova meet this threshold.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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