Chișinău grants €35 back-to-school aid to 8,000 pupils
The municipality of Chișinău will provide €35 (approx. 700 MDL) in back-to-school assistance to roughly 8,000 vulnerable children ahead of the new academic year starting Sept. 1, Mayor Ion Ceban announced.
The financial aid is designed to help low-income families purchase school bags, stationery, and essential classroom supplies. The one-off grant forms part of the municipal administration's broader social assistance strategy, which encompasses over 120 dedicated support programs.
“As in previous years, Chișinău City Hall will grant 700 lei to around 8,000 children for the start of the school year,” Ceban said during a municipal meeting on Monday. “While this may not be a large sum, we strive each year to offer this backing to children and families facing severe financial hardship.”
Public transit and safety directives
Ceban also reminded transport operators that primary school pupils travel free across the capital's public transport network. He urged drivers and conductors to exercise vigilance and barred staff from removing children from vehicles over ticketing issues.
“Under no circumstances should children be pushed aside or removed from buses or trolleybuses because they cannot show a student card,” Ceban said. “Should any disputes arise, transport staff must inform the dispatch office immediately so appropriate action can be taken.”
School renovation and infrastructure readiness
Concurrently, municipal authorities confirmed that 85% of scheduled maintenance works across 146 educational institutions are now complete. The €7.24 million (146 million MDL) program covers 51 kindergartens, 86 schools, and seven extracurricular facilities.
“As of today, 85% of the planned work has been finalized,” said Andrei Pavaloi, deputy head of the municipal Directorate General for Education, Youth and Sports. “Only complex structural projects remain ongoing, such as complete roof overhauls and school cafeterias requiring extensive modernization.”
Municipal crews also repainted pedestrian crosswalks, resurfaced surrounding access roads, and felled damaged trees near schools to safeguard pupils. Opening assemblies across most capital schools are scheduled to begin at 8:30 local time on Sept. 1.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
