Roma students can apply for merit scholarships until October 20
The application deadline for the merit scholarship program for Roma pupils and students was extended to October 20. The program will award 120 scholarships, each worth 1,200 lei per month.
The application period has been extended by 20 days to give interested young people more time to prepare documents confirming their academic achievements and their Roma ethnicity.
The competition is open to young people in general secondary education (lyceum), technical-vocational education, and higher education. The scholarships offer additional financial support to Roma pupils and students, aiming to motivate them to continue their studies and develop the skills needed to build a better professional future.
"Pupils must be enrolled in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in general education. For technical-vocational education, they must be studying in colleges, vocational schools, or centers of excellence; for higher education, they must be admitted to full-time study programs," stated Ivan Duminică, Head of the Interethnic Relations Policy Service at the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC), during the "Zi de Zi" program on Radio Moldova.
Eligible candidates must have no outstanding academic debts and must not receive any other type of scholarship. Excellent academic results, involvement in extracurricular activities, and participation in volunteer work will be considered advantages.
"We are referring to academic Olympiads and various initiatives dedicated to the Roma community. Such participation is crucial for demonstrating that the student is active in school life," the MEC representative said.
So far, 84 applications have been submitted, with the majority coming from candidates in technical-vocational education. "There is a committee composed of representatives from the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) and the Agency for Interethnic Relations. Representatives from universities, community mediators, and members of Roma civil society are also present. During the meeting, they evaluate applications. Priority is given to academic achievement, followed by regular attendance and active participation in school life," stated Ivan Duminică.
According to him, interest among Roma students in specialized studies is growing year by year; he also noted that another success is the rising number of Roma individuals choosing to continue their education at the higher education level.
"Through the scholarship offered, we aim to encourage them to continue their studies—that is, not to drop out. And it is important that they understand this," concluded Ivan Duminică.
In the 2025–2026 academic year, 1,600 Roma pupils and students attended educational institutions in the country, and this year the figure has reached 2,000.
