High school in Moldovan capital energy-efficiently upgraded with Czech support

An event was held today at Matei Basarab Theoretical High School in Chișinău to celebrate the completion of energy efficiency works as part of a larger project aimed at improving study conditions in educational institutions in the Republic of Moldova amidst the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

The project, carried out with the support of the Government of the Czech Republic (CzechAid), included conducting an energy audit and thermal insulation, changing the electricity, replacing several windows, significantly reducing energy consumption during winter, and creating more comfortable and sustainable learning environments.


"Through this project, students will benefit from better study conditions, and our commitment goes beyond infrastructure, emphasizing support for social inclusion, especially during crises, thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of the Czech Republic," country director of People in Need Moldova Guillermo Llinas said.


The event also brought together representatives of the Ministry of Education and Research, local authorities, the Embassy of the Czech Republic, who participated alongside the high school's management and students to mark the completion of energy efficiency works. A ceremony was also held to unveil a commemorative plaque marking the completion of the works and the significant contribution of international and local partners.

Valentina Olaru, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Research, emphasized the importance of this project for the entire educational system.


"Improving school conditions is essential for student performance, and this project is an example of good practices in sustainable education, contributing to creating a more pleasant and efficient environment for students and teachers," noted Olaru.


The energy efficiency renovations, with a total budget of over 10 million Moldovan lei, included work in 5 schools in different regions of Moldova: Matei Basarab High School in Chișinău, Alecu Russo High School Chișinău, Ștefan cel Mare High School in Bălți, Taras Sevcenco Gymnasium and Mihail Ciachir High School in Ceadîr-Lunga, part of the Model Schools Network.


"These renovations were carried out in response to the challenges faced by the Republic of Moldova, including hosting a significant number of refugees and the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. I am glad we are celebrating the success of this project today, and students and teachers will continue to enjoy a comfortable and conducive learning environment," stated Jaromír Plíšek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Chișinău.


Present at the event, Angela Cutasevici, Deputy Mayor of Chișinău pointed out the contribution of the People in Need team and thanked them for their work, professionalism and responsiveness to local authorities' requests.


"On behalf of Chișinău City Hall, we sincerely thank the Government of the Czech Republic and the People In Need team for their support and efforts in implementing this major infrastructure project," highlighted Cutasevici.


People in Need Moldova is a non-governmental organization that supports vulnerable communities in the Republic of Moldova, particularly in areas such as education, human rights protection, and sustainable development. The organization is actively involved in supporting refugees and people affected by crises, being an active partner of authorities and international organizations.

CzechAid is the official development agency of the Government of the Czech Republic, supporting development projects in various fields, including education, health, infrastructure, and environmental protection, in different parts of the world.