Reorganized schools, support classes and allowances for young teachers

Parliament today adopted several legislative amendments aimed at streamlining the school network, establishing support groups for children with disabilities, and granting allowances to young people who choose to continue their careers in technical vocational education. The legislative initiative, drafted by the Ministry of Education and Research was adopted in the second reading by 54 MPs.

The project aims to facilitate access to Romanian language learning programs for children returning from the diaspora and for the children of foreign citizens. In addition, support classes or groups will be established for children with severe disabilities, made up of a smaller number of pupils and assisted by two teachers. Such classes will also be organized in auxiliary schools, allowing students to continue their studies for another three years after completing the 9th grade.

The document also provides financial support measures for graduates of higher education or technical vocational education institutions who are employed, following their assignment, in public general or technical vocational education institutions or in psycho-pedagogical assistance structures. The allowances will be granted during the first five years of teaching activity, calculated from the moment of their assignment.

The adopted amendments also concern the reintroduction of grades in the 4th grade for exam subjects, starting from 1 September 2026. In the last ten years, teachers have used a system of descriptors ("excellent", "very good", etc.).

The project also sets clear criteria for terminating open-ended employment contracts of deputy principals and establishes the obligation to organize public competitions for filling these positions. At present, approximately 39% of deputy principals hold the position for an indefinite term, while another 27% are acting in an interim capacity.

At the same time, the amendments to the Education Code provide for the reorganization of public general education institutions in order to reduce the gaps between small and large schools. This concerns the reorganization of 73 small schools, where about 1,328 pupils study (less than 0.5% of the total of over 330,000 pupils), 63 of which will be reorganized into another institutional format. Currently, nearly 91 schools have fewer than 50 pupils, and 247 have fewer than 90 pupils.

Pupils transferred as a result of the reorganization will benefit from school transport and will receive, for a period of two years, a monthly allowance of 1,000 lei to cover travel expenses. At the same time, pupils with special educational needs will be guaranteed continuity of educational support and access to adapted transport. Teachers will also benefit from support: teachers will be re-employed, as a priority, in institutions within the district, with coverage of transport costs. Teachers who cannot be employed within the district may be assigned to other regions, receiving a relocation allowance of up to 300,000 lei.

Starting from 1 January 2027, education institutions with more than 400 pupils will be able to manage their financial resources independently. The institution’s principal will manage the budget and plan procurements without depending on the local public administration. Currently, 939 schools already have financial autonomy, while another 172 schools are managed by the accounting departments of local authorities.

Other measures concern the recognition and equivalence of teaching qualifications, the regulation of the management of student dormitories, and the establishment of a centralized financial mechanism for internationalization.

The draft law amending the Education Code was subjected to public consultations, attended by representatives of central public authorities and non-governmental organizations active in the field of education.

The law amending the Education Code will enter into force upon the publication in the Official Journal of the Republic of Moldova, except for the provisions concerning allowances for young specialists employed as a result of assignment, which will enter into force on 1 January 2027.