Education Reform in the Republic of Moldova: The Ministry of Education Proposes Placing Schools Under the Authority of Territorial Education Agencies

The Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova proposes a comprehensive reform of the school administration system.

The initiative, titled “Restart in Education,” provides for the creation of Territorial Education Agencies (TEAs), institutions directly subordinated to the ministry, which will take over part of the responsibilities currently held by district and municipal education departments.

The purpose of the reform: reducing disparities between districts

Minister of Education Dan Perciun says the reform is necessary in order to reduce the significant disparities between districts and municipalities in terms of the quality of education and pupils’ access to educational services. According to the authorities, the current system is fragmented and operates unevenly from one region to another, affecting the transparency and consistency of administrative processes in schools.

What responsibilities the Territorial Education Agencies will have

The new structures will manage the school network and will have responsibilities related to the selection and evaluation of school principals, monitoring the quality of education, managing infrastructure and school transport, as well as implementing measures regarding inclusion, pupil safety, and the digitalization of administrative processes.

At the same time, early childhood education and extracurricular activities will remain the responsibility of local public authorities.

Problems identified in the current system

At present, the Ministry of Education sets national policies and standards, while school administration is carried out by local education departments. According to the minister, this model has led to considerable differences between districts, both in pupils’ results and in the implementation of education policies.

Data analyzed by the Ministry of Education and Research show significant regional discrepancies. For example, in national mathematics assessments for fourth-grade pupils, the percentage of pupils receiving the “Very Good” grade ranges from 21.8% to 50.8%. At the same time, the average Baccalaureate examination score differs from one district to another, ranging between 6.64 and 7.61.

Stability for school principals and reducing political influence

The reform also aims to create a more transparent system for the selection and evaluation of school principals. Under the current model, many managers serve for long periods in an interim capacity, while the organization of competitions or the prioritization of investments differs from one district to another.

According to Dan Perciun, the new rules should provide school principals with greater stability and professional independence, while ensuring that all educational institutions are administered according to uniform national standards.

Staff shortages and administrative difficulties

The ministry also draws attention to the shortage of specialists in education departments. Salaries considered uncompetitive have led to a lack of staff in areas such as management, finance, digitalization, procurement, and data analysis. Currently, only around 70% of positions are filled, and in some cases a single specialist manages a very large number of institutions and pupils simultaneously.

Impact on inclusion and pupil safety

The authorities say that issues such as bullying, school absenteeism, the inclusion of children with special educational needs, and pupil safety are handled differently from one district to another. In some areas, there are well-organized administrative teams, while others face staff shortages and limited resources.

According to the minister, these differences particularly affect vulnerable children, pupils with special educational needs, and schools in small localities.

Increasing administrative capacity

Through the “Restart in Education” reform, the Ministry of Education and Research aims to strengthen the administrative teams of the new Territorial Education Agencies and increase the salary attractiveness of these positions. The goal is to ensure the uniform implementation of education policies and provide more effective support for schools nationwide.