Moldova early education gap widens between urban and rural areas

Access to preschools in Moldova depends on where you live

In Moldova, there remains a significant disparity between urban and rural areas in terms of access to early childhood education. In urban kindergartens, there are an average of 89 children for every 100 available spots, whereas in rural areas, this figure is only 57 children.

Angela Kutasevich

These findings were presented as part of the first national assessment of children’s school readiness, conducted by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova with support from UNICEF.

According to the study’s findings, the differences between urban and rural areas are linked not only to demographic characteristics but also to varying levels of educational infrastructure development. Urban institutions operate at higher capacity, while kindergartens in rural areas face lower enrollment rates as well as other challenges related to the accessibility and quality of the educational environment.

As part of the national assessment, 1,768 children from 120 early childhood education institutions across the country were studied. The study covered four key areas of school readiness: early literacy, early math skills, social-emotional development, and motor development.

The results show that, overall, 89% of children are ready for the transition to elementary school. However, when all four areas are assessed comprehensively, 66% of children reach the appropriate level of readiness.

The greatest challenges were identified in the area of social-emotional development. The study also revealed lower results among children from the northern region of the country, rural areas, and among children affected by their parents’ migration.

What Will the Assessment Results Change?

According to MP Angela Kutasevich, the data obtained should serve as the basis for setting priorities and allocating resources in the field of early childhood education.

“Children and preschools in areas with lower scores need more support, specialists, educational materials, and a prompt response from the authorities. Special attention must be paid to children whose parents are living abroad. Preparation for school begins long before the first day of first grade, and the support a child receives during the preschool years can influence their future educational path,” Kutasevich noted.

The authorities intend to determine how the assessment results will be taken into account when formulating budgets, developing services, and making future decisions regarding early childhood education in the Republic of Moldova.