Better conditions for students in 18 schools: 130 sanitary units rehabilitated through ONDRL projects in Moldova

As many as 130 sanitary units from 18 educational institutions were  rehabilitated through projects implemented by the National Office for Regional and Local Development (ONDRL) in 2024. These initiatives provide better hygiene conditions for approximately 11,000 students and about 1,100 employees.

Among the beneficiary institutions, there is the Ștefan cel Mare Theoretical Lyceum from Chisinau. Those 972 students and 87 employees of the institution now benefit from modern hygiene conditions, a long-awaited achievement both by students and staff. With financial support from the government, worth 1.125 million lei, and a contribution of 56,000 lei from local authorities, a comprehensive project has been implemented, significantly improving the school environment.

The institution's manager, Anna Franț, emphasized that, under this project, 12 sanitary units had been fully renovated and endowed with modern equipment, including support for children with special needs.

"The Public Institution Ștefan cel Mare Theoretical Lyceum from the Moldovan capital has been working since 1988, although the study block was built in 1967. Since the building's commissioning, the sanitary units have undergone various cosmetic repairs, but have never been fully renovated, which led to the deterioration of water supply and drainage materials. Consequently, leaks caused by deteriorated networks have even affected the building's external masonry. Thanks to the development and approval of the capital repair project for the sanitary units, we managed to secure funding from the state budget. These improvements do not represent a luxury, but an essential necessity for the observance of our children's rights to education and health in friendly conditions. We are grateful to the government, the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC), local public authorities and ONDRL for every support provided in implementing this essential education project," said Anna Franț.

In the last two years, within the Program for improving hygiene and sanitation conditions in primary, gymnasiums and lyceums, initiated by MEC, which aims to improve sanitary and hygiene conditions through the construction and renovation of sanitary units, 38 projects were implemented, under which 217 sanitary units were renovated.

The total investment budget is over 36.2 million lei, of which about 34.5 million lei was allocated from the state budget and a little bit more than 1.7 million lei represent the contribution of local public authorities. The direct beneficiaries of these projects are 14,428 students and 1,722 employees from 38 educational institutions of Moldova.

According to MEC, in 2025, ONDRL is expected to implement sanitary unit renovation projects in 20 schools, with an allocation of 22.5 million lei from the state budget. These renovations will include both modernizing the current infrastructure and creating better hygiene conditions.