Equal access to education: thousands of refugee children from Ukraine integrated into educational system of Moldova

Thousands of refugee children from Ukraine have been supported in integrating into the educational system of Moldova. Thus, as of 1 September 2025, there were 2,866 pupils in schools and 846 children in early education institutions. The Education and Research Ministry (MEC) today presented data to this effect, marking four years since the outbreak of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

MEC underlined that, over the past four years, it had implemented a string of measures to ensure equal and unrestricted access to education for refugee children and young people.

In general education, administrative barriers to enrollment have been removed by waiving the requirement for notarized authentication and translation of documents, accepting copies of documents or a declaration on own responsibility, and assisting parents during the enrollment process. In 2025, the admission methodology was amended, so that 10 per cent of places in first grade and in upper secondary education are reserved for refugee children, without entrance examinations.

In higher and vocational education, admission procedures were simplified by eliminating the requirement for notarized authentication and mandatory translation of documents.

In the current academic year, 268 refugees have been enrolled in universities of Moldova, and 117 people have been admitted to vocational education institutions. In addition, Ukrainian citizens admitted on a contract basis pay tuition fees under the same conditions as citizens of Moldova.

In parallel with integration into the national system, the Ministry has encouraged both the learning of the Romanian language and the preservation of the mother tongue of refugees from Ukraine.

To this end, a Romanian language curriculum for refugee and repatriated children has been approved. Teachers provide additional support to overcome language barriers. Presently, 35 EduTech laboratories are operating, involving 905 children, 425 of whom are studying Romanian. At the same time, adult refugees have had access to free Romanian language courses organized under the National Programme for Learning the Romanian Language.

Recently, the Action Plan for the learning and promotion of the Ukrainian language among the Ukrainian community of Moldova, including refugees from Ukraine, has also been approved. It establishes a coherent framework for interventions, in order to support and promote the Ukrainian language in the educational system, in line with national and international commitments on the protection of national minorities.