Moldova minister rejects metal detectors in all schools
Moldova’s education minister has rejected installing metal detectors in schools nationwide, saying authorities should first enforce existing rules after a 14-year-old was injured in a knife incident in Chisinau.
Minister says existing legislation should be enforced
Education and Research Minister Dan Perciun said installing metal detectors in 1,000 schools would be disproportionate at this stage. Instead, schools should explain conduct rules to students and enforce existing legal provisions on prohibited items.
The comments followed an incident at the Natalia Gheorghiu Theoretical High School in Chisinau, where a 14-year-old student was injured in the hand during a conflict between classmates on Thursday, October 22.
Perciun said legislation allows teachers to confiscate certain items that could pose a risk to other students, even when they are privately owned. The provisions were introduced through amendments to Moldova’s Education Code about a year and a half ago, he said.
“Based on one documented incident, I don’t think we should invest in metal detectors in 1,000 schools at this stage,” Perciun said during a live broadcast on October 23.
The minister said his ministry was willing to discuss any difficulties schools encounter in applying the law and consider improving the regulatory framework if necessary.
“We will continue discussions with schools, and if they encounter difficulties in applying the legal framework, we can improve it. But introducing metal detectors in all educational institutions would be a disproportionate measure at this stage,” he said.
Support teams working with students and families
Perciun said specialists from the Republican Centre for Psycho-pedagogical Assistance were working at the school where the incident occurred. Discussions had also been held with the parents of the students involved and the wider school community.
“There are several overlapping issues, but I believe they will be resolved. The attitude and involvement of the student’s parents are very important. I cannot provide further details,” the minister said.
According to preliminary information released by police, the incident began with a conflict between two 13-year-old students. One of them reportedly took out a knife and moved towards the other student. A third student, aged 14, was accidentally injured in the hand.
The school’s principal confirmed to Moldova 1 that the injured student was of Ukrainian origin. She said the minors involved had no previous behavioural problems and were considered well-behaved students.
Following the incident, the school administration held a meeting with parents, including those of the students involved, to assess the situation and identify measures to prevent similar incidents.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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