Government approves creation of 34 territorial education agencies to administer country’s schools

Primary schools, lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, and special education institutions will be transferred in two stages to the administration of territorial education agencies (TEAs) subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Research (MER). At today's meeting the Government approved the establishment of 34 TEAs—structures directly subordinate to the MER that will assume the role of founder of educational institutions from the district councils. Kindergartens and extracurricular institutions will remain under the authority of local public administrations.

In the case of 32 administrative-territorial units, the transfer is scheduled for January 1, 2027. In the municipalities of Chișinău and Bălți, educational institutions will come under the authority of the TEAs starting January 1, 2028. In the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, the territorial agency is to be established by the People’s Assembly. “The place where a student is born should not determine their future. Through this reform, we are taking responsibility for ensuring that every student has access to a quality school, with well-trained teachers, support, and safe learning conditions. Whether they study in the capital or in a small village, every child deserves the same opportunity,” said Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun.

Until now, territorial responsibilities in general education had been carried out through district and municipal directorates and other specialized subdivisions of local public authorities.

The agencies will have legal personality, a budget, treasury accounts, management, and their own organizational structure. The Ministry will approve the specific structure and regulations of each agency, as well as the list of institutions for which it will act as founder. The new structures will be responsible for managing the school network, institutional management, human resources, education quality, inclusion, financing, institutional assets, student transportation, and other areas.

A total of 825 staff positions are allocated for the 34 agencies approved by the Government today, allowing for the transfer of all persons from the reorganized subdivisions who perform duties taken over by the agencies.

The largest agency will be the one in Chișinău, with 121 staff positions. Orhei will have 29 positions, Bălți 28, and Soroca 27. The agency in Basarabeasca will have 14 positions, the smallest staff complement on the list presented.

TEA directors will be selected through a competitive process for five-year terms, with a maximum of two terms. Officials from the current district and municipal education directorates may be transferred to vacant positions within the new agencies.

The overall objective of the reform is to reduce the significant disparities between districts and municipalities in terms of the quality of and access to education by ensuring the effective and uniform implementation of education policies, reducing territorial disparities, strategically developing the school network, and using public resources efficiently in the interest of education quality.

Currently, the MER develops education policies and establishes national standards, while school administration is the responsibility of district and municipal education directorates under the authority of local councils. This governance system creates significant differences between districts and municipalities, both in terms of student outcomes and the ability of local authorities to implement education policies.

The activities of the agencies will be financed from the state budget within the existing financial limits.