According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the minimum subsistence level in the country is 2,963 lei per month, and reaches 3,357 lei in large cities. Most student scholarships range from 1,015 to 1,295 lei per month, which means that the student receives less than 40% of the necessary minimum for a basic standard of living.
CNTM calculated that a scholarship of 1,295 lei per month could buy 4 kilos of mackerel, 14 kebabs or rent an apartment in Chisinau for only 10 days.
“This means that a student receives less than 40% of the minimum subsistence required for survival. This difference is not just a financial problem, but a form of structural inequality that directly affects academic performance, mental health and equal access to education. When scholarships are so low, students are forced to work alongside their studies, forgo extracurricular activities, internships or volunteering, and rely on their parents for financial support. And those from vulnerable backgrounds risk dropping out of school altogether. Education cannot be of high quality if young people are constantly fighting for survival rather than development,” said the CNTM.
The organization calls on the Moldovan Ministry of Education and Research to increase scholarships to the subsistence level or introduce alternative support measures, including subsidized dormitories, food stamps, abolition of dormitory fees for scholarship holders, student loans with 0% interest rate and comprehensive support packages (housing, food, transportation).
The Moldovan Ministry of Education and Science issued a press release on Student Day, emphasizing that students are a priority. This year, the student self-governance reform was launched, as well as a national competition of student projects, within which six public universities received funding of up to 350,000 lei each.
Moreover, the ministry said that about 2 million euros were invested in the country’s universities to modernize the infrastructure and curricula, in order to create conditions close to the European standards and facilitate the employment of future specialists.
“We continue to build an educational system focused on quality, participation and development, supporting students’ civic engagement, creativity and academic performance,” the ministry said.
