Solutions for social, educational inclusion of Roma discussed at national conference held in Moldovan capital

Progress, priorities and sustainable solutions for the educational and social inclusion of Roma people today were analyzed in Chisinau, during a national conference organized on the occasion of the International Romani Day, marked on April 8.

The event brought together representatives of central and local public authorities, international organizations, development partners and members of the Roma community.

Present at the event, Deputy Secretary General Education and Research Ministry Ludmila Pavlov said that the institution gave priority attention to the educational inclusion of Roma children through concrete support measures.

“In this regard, merit scholarships for Roma pupils and students have been expanded, free breakfast has been provided for pupils in general education and a one-time financial aid of 1,000 lei has been offered for pupils in grades I–IX. These interventions contribute to increasing access to, and retention of, Roma children in the education system,” underlined Ludmila Pavlov.

The participants in the event highlighted the progress achieved in recent years in the field of educational inclusion of Roma children, as reflected by the increase in the number of enrolled pupils, the expansion of support programs and the strengthening of interinstitutional mechanisms.

According to statistics data, the number of Roma pupils enrolled in general education increased from 1,687 in 2024 to 2,029 in 2025. At the same time, a mechanism for continuous monitoring of schooling has been established, through the monthly collection of disaggregated data at the level of educational institutions.

Specific interventions have also been developed, such as piloting the role of educational mediator and launching the Accelerated Education Programme for the reintegration of children who are outside the education system. In addition, the  Education and Research Ministry has organized information and consultation sessions with Roma parents and communities, in order to raise awareness about the importance of education. In parallel, training sessions have been carried out for teaching staff, aimed at strengthening intercultural competencies and supporting the integration of Roma pupils into the educational process.

According to the 2024 Population and Housing Census of Moldova, the number of Roma people with usual residence is 9,356.