Thirteen education institutions from Moldova will receive about 14.3 million euros for the implementation of 20 projects in the following sectors: Sciences of education, Engineering and engineering activities, Information and communication technologies and Health. Following their implementation, about 52 laboratories and research centres, 67 classrooms, poly-functional halls and other training areas will be endowed. More than 20,000 students and 1,500 teachers from Moldova will benefit from these investments, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, Education and Research Minister Anatolie Topala, rectors of universities and directors of colleges attended the event on the launch of investment projects in universities and pedagogical schools.
In her speech, the PM said that, although Moldova was going through a difficult period, the government was resolute to achieve the goals of development and follow the country’s European aspirations. According to the prime minister, the education sector will further enjoy investments in quality and modernization, as well as in ensuring the connection between education and research.
“We know everybody that the economy of future will be based on knowledge. The country needs engineers due to edify a strong Moldova, acknowledged specialists in the IT field, medical staff in whom we are to have confidence and who are to provide qualitative services, teachers due to educate and cultivate values in the new generations. The formation of all these professions must take place with relevant ways and contents for the 21st century, taking into account the transformations through which not only our society, by the entire mankind go,” Natalia Gavrilita said.
The PM also said that, to make the education institutions meet the expectations of the young people and the society, the authorities had carried out the institutional reform of the universities. Gavrilita noted that, in the long run, the authorities would continue improving the legislation and come up with the resources needed to ensure the quality of the education process.
“Within the Higher Education in Moldova project, most funds, 50% of all amount, will be used for the sector of training teachers. Thus, we ensure the premises of the integration into the European Education Area and European Research Area, where the natural place of the education system from Moldova is. We want to have an advanced education system, due to fully contribute to the country’s development,” the prime minister stressed.
At the same time, Natalia Gavrilita urged the leaders of the institutions to involve as many as possible young women in such fields and engineering and information technologies.
“The resource of intelligence and innovation of women and girls from Moldova is huge. Please, let us give them the conditions they need, in order to turn to good account the enormous potential they have,” she said.
For his part, the education and research minister emphasized that the financial resources provided within the project would help the institutions become stronger, which would be reflected both in the relevance of the education process and in the quality of graduates.
“The universities represent the power centre of the education system and I want that we together consolidate them for the country’s development,” Anatolia Topala said.
Seven out of the entities selected by the contest team are public higher education institutions: Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ion Creanga State Pedagogical University from Chisinau, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu State University from Cahul, Moldovan State University, Academy of Economic Studies from Moldova and Technical University of Moldova. At the same time, six pedagogical colleges were selected: Mihai Eminescu College from Soroca, Iulia Hasdeu College from Cahul, Mihail Ciachir College from Comrat, Alexei Mateevici College from Chisinau, Vasile Lupu College from Orhei and the Ion Creanga Pedagogical College from Balti.
The Higher Education in Moldova project is financed by the World Bank and is implemented by the Education and Research Ministry in 2020-2025. (Moldpres/Business World Magazine)
