State to cover half of expenses of companies training students through dual education in Moldova

Companies involved in dual education will be able to recover 50 per cent of the expenses incurred for students’ practical training. At a today’s meeting, the government approved the introduction of a state aid mechanism for employers who invest in the professional training of young people.

Through dual education, pupils learn the theory in the educational institution and develop their practical skills directly in the workplace, under the guidance of a master-instructor. In this way, young people gain professional experience while still studying and employers can train their future employees according to the real needs of the company.

The new amendments introduce a state aid scheme through which companies will be able to recover half of the eligible expenses incurred for students’ practical training. The support will also cover pupils’ remuneration, the instructor’s salary, and the instructor’s pedagogical training.

For pupils, these changes mean more practical training in companies, access to modern equipment, work experience already during their studies, remuneration for the practical training period and better employment prospects after graduation. Presently, the employment rate of dual education graduates is approximately 60 per cent, compared to 30 per cent in the case of traditional vocational education.

Companies will be able to apply for state aid for each completed academic year between July 20 and September 10, by filling out the electronic form available on the website of the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA). The application must be accompanied by the supporting documents required by the scheme.

Employers willing to participate in dual education programmes must submit a letter of intent to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, indicating the vocational training programme, the educational institution with which they intend to collaborate and the number of pupils they can train.

To become partners in the dual education system, companies must have appropriate spaces and conditions for practical training, ensure a sufficient number of master-instructors—one instructor may coordinate at most 15 students at the same time—and organize the training in accordance with legal provisions and the curriculum approved by the Education and Research Ministry (MEC).

Interest in dual education is continuously growing: in the 2025–2026 academic year, approximately 3,300 pupils are studying in this system, in partnership with 230 companies, and in 2026 it is estimated that about 130 enterprises will already be able to benefit from the new scheme for the practical training of approximately 2,000 pupils.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the MEC has allocated 2,669 state-funded places for dual education. At the same time, more than 300 companies have expressed their willingness to train pupils within more than 70 vocational training programmes, thus contributing to the development of a well-qualified workforce adapted to the needs of the national economy.