Moldovan Education Ministry launches national Romanian language learning programme for 2026–2028

The Education and Research Ministry (MEC) has launched the National Romanian Language Learning Programme for the years 2026–2028. It places increased emphasis on the development of oral communication and the functional use of the Romanian language in real educational, social and professional contexts, as well as on aligning school outcomes with national mechanisms for certifying language competences.

Within the Programme, special attention is given to national minorities, people returning from the Diaspora, refugees, as well as children and pupils newly arrived from other linguistic and cultural communities. For these groups, linguistic and educational support mechanisms are planned, along with curricular adaptation measures, differentiated Romanian language learning pathways and educational interventions meant to facilitate educational and social integration.

Compared to the previous Programme, the project for 2026–2028 introduces a more clearly competence-oriented approach by aligning the teaching, learning and assessment of the Romanian language with the proficiency levels set out in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Another important innovation of the Programme is the systemic integration of multilingual education and the expansion of the use of the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach in educational institutions with instruction in national minority languages, with the aim of strengthening the use of Romanian as a language of teaching and communication. At the same time, the Programme provides for the modernization of the curriculum, the diversification and digitization of educational resources, as well as the development of a unified framework for the initial and continuous training of teachers who teach Romanian as a non-native language.

The Programme also includes specific measures to support allophone pupils who encounter difficulties in learning the Romanian language and literature, through the implementation of dedicated remedial programmes. These interventions aim to strengthen Romanian language communication skills and contribute to improving school results, including in lower secondary graduation assessments and the national baccalaureate exam.

Teachers' motivation measures, a central element of the new Programme

A central element of the new Programme is the improvement of human resources in the education system. Measures are planned to motivate teachers who teach Romanian, including by encouraging advancement in the hierarchy of teaching degrees, as a strategic tool for increasing professional quality and retaining staff, especially in educational institutions located in areas predominantly inhabited by national minorities.

The Programme’s interventions target the development of retraining programmes for teachers who choose to teach Romanian language and literature to allophone pupils.

At the same time, efforts are aimed at strengthening the professional communication skills in Romanian of teachers already involved in this process, in order to raise their qualification level up to C1 for a significant proportion of the teaching staff in allophone schools.

The Programme also supports professional development by providing institutional support for getting higher teaching degrees.

Motivated young specialists through increased scholarships and allowances

Also, the Programme provides for the implementation of measures to motivate and retain young specialists, including increasing the amount of scholarships for students specializing in Romanian Language and Literature, granting a relocation allowance and ensuring earmarked transfers to support the employment and retention of young teachers in the education system, with a focus on institutions in disadvantaged areas and predominantly allophone communities.

The draft Programme attaches increased importance to early education, technical vocational education, higher education and adults' education, ensuring the continuity of language competence development throughout the entire educational and professional pathway. At the same time, mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation and data use are strengthened in order to underpin public policy decisions and enhance the impact of interventions.

The National Programme on Learning the Romanian Language by National Minorities for the years 2023–2025 has enabled thousands of people to benefit from courses to improve their Romanian language skills.