Moldova's Education and Research Ministry announces priorities for 2025 year

Starting September 1, 2025, the majority of schools nationwide will provide free meals for students in grades V-IX. The program will be fully funded by the state budget.

Additionally, support for children with disabilities will be strengthened through the development of mobile specialist teams and the integration of three pilot schools prepared to include children with severe disabilities.

Kindergartens will also receive additional support with the introduction of psychologists, speech therapists, and support staff roles. To ensure a safe educational environment, the Ministry will launch a national anti-bullying campaign and implement a national registry of staff involved in cases of violence, promoting zero tolerance for such situations.

Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun announced today the MEC priorities for 2025.

According to the minister, the year 2025 will be decisive for accelerating the modernization processes initiated earlier in the field of education and research. The Ministry's activity will focus on five priority areas: investment in teaching staff, modernization of infrastructure and institution equipping, promotion of integrity and academic excellence, inclusion and well-being of students.

Thus, the ministry will continue implementing the 'Invest in Educators' and 'Invest in Teachers' programs, which will be expanded to include other categories of educational staff, such as support staff, psychologists, and speech therapists. Meanwhile, 6,000 teachers will benefit from free digital skills training programs. Salaries for teachers with teaching degrees will be increased, and doctoral scholarships will be doubled. The campaign 'Be Pro! Choose to be a Teacher!' will continue, aimed at attracting 2,050 students into pedagogy programs and distributing 500 graduates into schools. In 2025, 1,000 mentors will begin their activity at the national level.


'The quality of education directly depends on the well-being and training of teaching staff. Motivated and well-trained teachers generate positive changes in the education system. It is essential to invest in the continuous training of teachers, provide them access to modern resources, and ensure decent working conditions. Salary policy must reflect the social importance of teachers' work, offering them recognition and stability. It is also crucial for teachers to have time to focus on children, not paperwork, enjoy appreciation for their work, and have respected status in society,' stated Dan Perciun.


Another priority area is the modernization of school and university infrastructure. In this regard, 300 schools will be equipped with digital equipment, and 200 kindergartens with new teaching materials and furniture. Additionally, 39 school buses will be purchased for student transportation. Investments of over 200 million lei will be allocated for university infrastructure modernization, and 20 million lei will be invested for the development of vocational schools and colleges. Investments in universities will continue this year to enhance the quality of studies and the attractiveness of our higher education system. The major objective for the upcoming school year is for 6 out of 10 high school graduates to choose to remain in universities in the Republic of Moldova.

MEC is also working on measures to ensure fairness and integrity within the educational system. The gymnasium graduation exam will be held in a centralized format, and the 'Be 09NEST' campaign, launched in eight districts last year, will be expanded nationwide. On exam days, the ministry will delegate observers to all schools, and the tests will be centrally checked. Two additional sessions will be organized for students who do not pass the gymnasium graduation exams on their first attempt. Additionally, 6,000 students will benefit from free extra preparation classes for the math exam, with a campaign to encourage high school students to support their gymnasium peers.

For the first time, in 2025, centralized, externally evaluated exams will be organized for some vocational disciplines such as Accounting, Tourism, Commodity Science, Business Planning and Management. Approximately 1,000 students from 20 vocational educational institutions will participate in these exams, which will meet all necessary rigor.

To ensure academic integrity, six universities will have examination centers equipped with surveillance cameras. Furthermore, MEC will conduct a representative survey among students regarding eliminating informal payments in universities. The government payment system will continue to be implemented as a transparent and anonymous alternative for parental involvement in school and kindergarten funding. Already, 131 schools are using this system, and it is planned to extend it by 2025.

In 2025, MEC expresses its commitment to supporting research and innovation sectors, by modernizing research infrastructure and providing development opportunities for researchers. 'We will strive to provide allocation allowances for young doctoral candidates who choose to be assigned to research institutions, encouraging more talented young people to choose a career in the field,' mentioned Dan Perciun.

MEC is also working on curriculum updates and streamlining processes within the educational system. The first version of the new curriculum, which is set to be implemented in 2027, will be published this year. Additionally, 47 school curricula will be evaluated and revised, to be proposed for public discussions by the end of 2025.


'The curriculum must be dynamic, adapted to current challenges. We will introduce transversal skills such as critical thinking, creativity, digital and entrepreneurial education, and promote disciplines relevant to the labor market. We collaborate with the private sector and international experts to create a competitive curriculum,' declared Dan Perciun.


The minister expressed confidence that the reforms and initiatives proposed for 2025 will contribute to creating an efficient, fair, and 21st-century compatible educational system. 'These investments are for the future of our youth and for building a knowledge and integrity-based society,' concluded the official.

The Ministry of Education and Research's action plan for 2025 will be published on the institution's website and will be proposed for public discussions.