Among the main initiatives are free breakfasts for pupils in grades 1-9, a one-time material aid of 1,000 lei, the possibility of enrolling by copies of documents, and a special preparatory program for enhanced study of the Romanian language. The National Congress of Ukrainians of Moldova discussed on Monday the inclusion of Ukrainian children in the educational process. Representatives of the ministry, district education departments, development partners, and refugee parents took part.
Ivan Duminica, Head of the Interethnic Relations Policy Service of the Ministry of Education and Research, emphasized the importance of moving children offline for better integration, as well as for more accurate statistics.
“We don’t know when this war will end, so it is very important that children learn Romanian language as well, which will contribute to their integration into society. We don’t hide this problem – often children reach 9th grade and unfortunately they don’t know Romanian and can’t pass the exams. After all, many of them enter our education system already by the 9th grade. Statistics show that they studied online for 2-3 years, and then in the last year they decided to enter the 9th grade. And this is a big load for our education system, especially for the teachers, because they have to catch up with this material, to prepare the pupil not only to reach the level of basic knowledge of the Romanian language, but also to prepare for the 9th grade exam, not to mention the BAC. It is important for us that parents take a conscious approach to this and send their children earlier to an educational institution, so that they learn Romanian earlier”.
One of the motivational solutions is the fact that from September 1 this year free breakfasts have been introduced and all children from 1st to 9th grade will receive them. In some educational institutions – in the canteens, in some – in the classroom, and in specialized ones, such as sports, they will receive both breakfasts and lunches.
All children, including Ukrainian refugees, will receive a one-time aid of 1,000 lei. The lists are being compiled until December. Only those who study on the territory of Moldova will receive payments. Those who study online will not receive this money.
It is possible to enroll in an educational institution on the basis of copies of documents, originals are not required.
This year there will be a special curriculum for intensive learning of the Romanian language by Ukrainian children. It will be a preparatory intensive year, it is not about the compulsory nature of these classes.
Special attention is paid to providing schools with teachers who speak Ukrainian, including refugees themselves with pedagogical education.
“We need teachers of primary grades, math, physics, foreign languages, who could teach these subjects in the children’s native language. Seniority and degrees will be credited. Since 2022 to this day pedagogical degrees have recognized in us 38 teachers – it is very important, it is very simple – to come to the Ministry of education, provide documents on graduation from a university in Ukraine, a document on temporary protection”, – said Duminika.
Despite this, there are difficulties that parents of Ukrainian children talk about. For example, the mother of a six-year-old boy (the family came from Kherson) said that since May she has been unable to find a place in kindergarten in Chisinau:
“I have visited preschools within walking distance and to this day I have not found anything. I hear negative answers – either there are no places, or they ask if you will stay or leave. Since I can’t answer these questions, I get rejected.
According to Duminica, in Chisinau educational institutions are overcrowded, “this is an objective factor”, and there are times when even an extra desk cannot be placed – sanitary norms do not allow it.
It is worth noting that of the total number of foreign children entering the Moldovan education system, up to 60% are Ukrainians. Since 2023, children of refugees from Palestine have also started enrolling.
According to the General Inspectorate for Migration of the Republic of Moldova, from March 1, 2023 to August 25, 2025, 18870 minor children and 60438 adults from Ukraine received temporary protection in Moldova. As of August 25, 3,773 people had temporary right of residence and 2,685 people had permanent right of residence.
According to the Ministry of Education and Research, there are currently 2,530 children from Ukraine in the educational sector in Moldova in grades 1-9. In kindergartens there are 977 Ukrainian children. There are discrepancies between the data of the State Inspectorate for Migration and the Ministry of Education and Research. Therefore, the task is to attract children who are on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, but study online – and most of them study online. The Ministry’s policy is aimed at stimulating the transition of children from distance learning to the face-to-face format – to school.
