Moldova Reorganised 92 Schools in a Year, 31 of Them Shut Down

This year, 92 educational institutions across the country underwent reorganization. According to the Ministry of Education and Research, 31 of them ceased operations. Another 56 switched to a different organizational format, while 5 merged with other institutions. As a result of these changes, more than 1,900 pupils were transferred to other schools, IPN reports. Education Minister Dan Perciun clarified that most of the changes affected primary schools. Specifically, 35 were converted into primary schools with kindergartens, 4 were reorganized as primary schools, 7 as kindergartens and 3 as gymnasium-kindergartens. Another 4 institutions became branches of schools, while 3 continued operating as gymnasiums, including by accepting pupils from other educational institutions. According to the minister, legislation provides for the closure of schools with fewer than 10 pupils, the conversion of gymnasiums with fewer than 35 pupils in grades V-IX into primary schools, and the reorganization of primary schools with fewer than 30 pupils into primary schools with kindergartens. These changes also take into account the distance to an alternative educational institution, which must not exceed 20 kilometers, as well as the language of instruction. Of the pupils who were transferred, nearly half now attend schools located less than 10 kilometers from their former schools, while 97% travel no more than 20 kilometers.