Number of young people admitted to dual education of Moldova increase by 70 per cent in recent years

The number of young people who have been admitted to dual education has increased by 70 per cent in recent years, from 1,000 people in 2023 to 1,700 in 2025. The authorities aim for this figure to continue growing. Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun today unveiled data to this effect. He  participated in the 2025 Expansion Report: Progress and Future Priorities of  Moldova conference, organized in Chisinau today.

Dan Perciun emphasized that dual education is one of the major priorities of the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC).

"It's a process that started in 2005. In 2023, we began with approximately 1,000 students entering dual education annually and have reached 1,700 by 2025, so around a 70-per cent increase in admissions, which is a very good indicator for us, and more than 200 economic agents are participating in this activity at present. Businesses often ask us to ensure the competitiveness and high level of preparation of our graduates," said the education minister.

The minister pointed out that the MEC had set an objective to reach 2,500 young people admitted annually to dual education by 2029.

"We have set ten strategic objectives for the ministry till 2029. One of these objectives is the target of having 2,500 young people admitted to dual education annually, and we are aiming for this by 2029. That would be about one-third of all those entering vocational schools or colleges," said Dan Perciun.

According to him, the budget allocated for dual education has been tripled in recent years, from 5 to 15 million lei, and this effort will continue, with a new project worth 60 million euros to be approved for the development of this sector in the coming period.

"The perspective is to grow and develop this sector and at the same time, use funds from the European Union to come with additional investments in vocational schools and colleges, in order to enhance theoretical training. In this regard, the authorities are finalizing a project of about 60 million euros, which should be developed and implemented together with the Council of Europe's Bank starting from the end of 2026," concluded Dan Perciun.

Dual education represents a special way of training and professional development, with responsibilities shared between dual partners—the company (workplace) and the educational institution. Thus, students receive structured practical training at the company, while theory is assimilated at the educational institution.