Over 2,000 pupils study in Latin-script schools from Transnistrian region

More than 2,000 students are studying in Latin-script schools from the Transnistrian region. The Reintegration Policies Bureau (BPR) today unveiled data to this effect. The Bureau highlighted the positive developments, as well as the challenges faced by the Romanian-language education institutions on the left bank of the Dniester River and the Bender city.

Thus, for the first time in the last fifteen years, the total number of children studying in these schools is 2,041 pupils.

‘’This increase, although slow, confirms that parents continue to guide their children towards institutions where the educational process is conducted in Romanian, applying school programmes approved by the Ministry of Education and Research, which provide real future prospects. At the same time, this trend is even more valuable against the general background of demographic decline and the constant decrease in the number of children in Moldova’s Transnistrian region,’’ BPR said.

Also, authorities announce that, despite these positive trends, the institutions face major problems.

‘’Five out of the eight schools operate in rented spaces, unfit for the educational process, not adapted to modern standards and insufficient to ensure the natural development of children. This situation is the result of artificial pressures and obstacles created by Tiraspol, which prevent the restitution of their own premises or the providing of others suitable and compel students and teachers to operate in inappropriate conditions. Against these pressures, it is even more encouraging that parents choose to enroll their children in Latin script schools, which stay the only safe and viable alternative after the so-called structures in the region successively close the Moldovan educational institutions working based on Cyrillic script. The eight Latin-script schools today represent not just an educational option, but also a guarantee for the future of children in the Transnistrian region, ensuring their right to quality education in line with national, European and international standards, ’’ added BPR.

In the context, the Moldovan authorities reiterated their commitment to support these institutions through concrete measures and modernization projects, so that each child can benefit from a safe and decent educational environment.