NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
The 2014 Education Code (as amended in 2019) provides the legal framework and structure for the education system in the Republic of Moldova from pre-primary to tertiary education. According to the 2014 Education Code (as amended in 2019), educational institutions are classified depending on the type of ownership, defining a ‘private education institution’ as those owned and created by private actors, individuals, or legal entities.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Moldova, most schools at primary (four years, beginning at age seven), lower secondary (five years, beginning at age 15/16), and upper secondary education (two years) are state schools (98%). Compulsory education is provided for ten years, covering one year of pre-primary, primary, and lower secondary education.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
No information was found.
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools are owned, manage, and financed by private actors through private funds and tuition fees. Private schools need to be authorized to operate and must follow the same directive for public schools, such as complying with national education standards. In Moldova, there are few private educational institutions (23 Institutions with an overall 2% of students' enrolment). In 2019, student enrollment in private educational institutions represented 0.7% in pre-primary, 1.8% in primary education, 1.5% in lower secondary, and 3.4% in upper secondary.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
According to the 2014 Education Code (as amended in 2019), non-state accredited educational institutions can benefit from government funding.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
Moldova's regulatory framework allows for homeschooling and distance learning as a form of education as long as they follow the state educational standards. In situations such as when a child is limited from attending regular school due to their health, distance education is organized to coordinate with the Ministry of Health (Education Code 2014 amended in 2019).
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
No information was found.
According to the 2014 Education Code (as amended in 2019), the education system in Moldova is organized in three different tiers: a national level, a local level, and an institutional level. The Ministry of Education, Culture, and Research (MoECR) is responsible for developing the overall educational policy, regulations monitoring, and evaluation for all education levels. The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC), under the MoECR’s mandate, is responsible for authorization, accreditation, and quality assurance of state and non-state entities offering educational programs and services at primary, secondary, vocational, and tertiary education.
At a local level, local authorities are responsible for authorization and monitoring non-state early childhood care and education (ECCE) facilities and ensure regulatory compliance with the national education framework, policies, and programs at all levels of educational institutions in their jurisdiction.
Vision The Education Development Strategy 2014-2020 in the Specific Objective 6.1. calls for the "Improvement of planning and management of the network of educational institutions, the development of the normative framework to facilitate the provision of private services in education and establishment of sectoral, cross-sectoral, national and international partnerships."
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
Early childhood care and education (ECCE) in Moldova, which covers ages from zero to seven, is primarily provided by the state (1,472 centers, 99% enrolments) with little private involvement (14 private centers, 0.7% of enrolment). The Education Code (2014 amended 2019) categorizes services into preschool (ages cero to two) and preschool education (ages two to seven), provided by nurseries, kindergartens, and community centers of early education. Children ages six-seven must attend mandatory preparatory groups for primary school. Community Schools are public institutions, primarily ECCE centers, created by local authorities intended for children who do not attend any other educational institution or come from a disadvantaged background.
Registration and approval: According to the Type Regulation in the Institution of Early Education (2017), to establish an ECCE center in Moldova, providers must be organized as non-profit organizations. Approval is granted based on fulfilling the minimum requirements, such as complying with the Sanitary Regulations for Early Education Institutions and the Minimum Standards for Equipment of the Early Educational Institutions. Every ECCE institution must follow the pupil-teacher ratio requirements, and the state established the maximum number of students enrolment in each facility.
Licence: No information was found.
Profit-making: According to the Regulation on Type of Early Education Institution, all income obtained must be used exclusively for institutional development, following non-profit organizations principles.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: No information was found.
Teaching profession: Every ECCE personnel must comply with the minimum qualification requirement established in the 2017 Regulation on Type of Early Education Institution. According to the regulations, all employees must be 18 or older to work in the ECCE center "with moral qualities, medically and mentally fit, and relate appropriately to children, parents, or legal representatives." All the employees must undergo a compulsory medical examination once every two years and take the test on the minimum of health knowledge on the hygienic program.
Fee-setting: Non-state ECCE centers can decide and modify their fees according to their needs and expenses, considering the legal principles of non-profit organizations. However, fees should not be lower than those charged by the state institutions.
Admission selection and processes: Non-state ECCE centers may organize their admission procedures depending on the institutional capacity but are limited to enroll the number of children established in their founding act and not more than the capacity approved by the local authorities.
Policies for vulnerable groups: The Regulation on Type of Early Education Institution forbids any institutions to refuse enrolment based on race, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, social category, beliefs, gender, age, disability, chronic illness non-contagious, HIV infection or from a disadvantaged background.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: ECCE learning facilities, both private and public, must submit an annual activity report to the local authority. Non-state ECCE centers must meet the same criteria, standards, and performance indicators as the public educational units.
Inspection: No information was found.
Child assessment: In preschool education, the monitoring of learning outcomes is performed based on the learning and development standards of children up to seven years old and the tool for monitoring the preparation of children for school, approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Research.
Sanctions: Non-state ECCE institutions are established, reorganized, and liquidated following the civil legislation, the Education Code, and the Regulation on Type of Early Education Institution. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Registration and approval: The 2014 Education Code (as amended in 2019) dictates that for a non-state educational institution to operate in the Republic of Moldova, proprietors must apply for authorization and meet the minimum standards established by law. The authorization process consists of two phases, Provisional Operation Authorization followed by an accreditation process. First, once the institution is legally constituted under the Civil Law and registered with the competent authority, providers must apply to the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC) for a Provisional Operation Authorization. The Provisional Operation Authorization consists of an external evaluation to verify compliance with the minimum legal requirements that grant the right to start admitting students to the educational institution. The minimum requirements include teaching staff, financial resources, and infrastructure requirements such as the number of classes and sanitary facilities. The application must also attach a copy of the certificate of registration of the competent authority and the Sanitary Authorization for operation.
Licence: Upon approval, provisional authorization is granted for up to five years, in which the educational institution must apply for accreditation. Accreditation certificates are issued for five years, after which educational institutions must re-apply for authorization.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): For an institution to be authorized and accredited, it must be in procession of a Sanitary Operation Authorization issued by the competent authority.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: See Multi-level regulations.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: All educational institutions must follow and comply with the National Curriculum, in line with the state educational standard according to the specific educational level. Educational institutions can develop and implement alternative programs with the MoECR approval ensuring compliance with the academic standards. Non-state educational institutions, or public schools with students from a minority background, can modify instruction's language with the Romanian language's mandatory teaching. (Education Code 2014 amended in 2019).
Textbooks and learning materials: All learning materials must be in line with the state education standards. Alternative manuals may be used, but they must be developed based on the National Curriculum.
Teaching profession: Teaching staff must comply with the minimum qualification requirements established by the law for the specific educational level.
Corporal punishment: According to the 2014 Education Code (as amended in 2019), it is within the teacher’s responsibility to prevent degrading treatment and punishment, as well as any form of discrimination, physical or psychological violence.
Other safety measures and COVID-19: In March 2020, the Moldovan authorities closed all schools in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and transitioned to distance learning for all education levels. The MoECR developed initiatives for psychological assistance for children/pupils, parents and teachers, and educational guidelines for online learning.
Fee-setting: According to the 2014 Education Code (as amended in 2019), a contract must be drafted between educational institutions and the students (parents or legal representatives) to regulate educational services against payment. The contract must include all the rights and obligations of all the parties involved, the duration of studies and must specify the amount of the tuition fee to be charged.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Policies for vulnerable groups: The Education Code (2014 amended in 2019) specifies the prohibition of any form of discrimination and includes the possibility of schools in the territory of communities with a different language to deliver the teaching instructions according to the native language, with mandatory Romanian teaching.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: General education institutions are required to establish an Administration Board with administrative decision-making. Administration Boards are composed of the school director and deputy director, an LPA representative and representatives of teachers (2), parents (3), a pupil (1). Additionally, school management must have a Teacher’s Board oversee the institution's educational area and a management staff lead by the director and the deputy director.
Reporting requirements: The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC) is responsible for assessing general education, accrediting institutions, and assuring quality in the general education system. All educational institutions must apply for accreditation at the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC) within the first five years after being granted the provisional authorization to operate and follow due process that consists of self-assessment report and external evaluation. All educational institutions must submit an internal evaluation annually, a self-assessment reports every five years and are subject to external evaluation procedures to ensure institutional quality.
School inspection: According to the Methodology of Evaluation of General Education Institutions, non-state educational institutions are subject to periodical evaluation, inspections, and external evaluation to ensure compliance with the national learning standards and authorization requirements.
Student assessment: Upon completing secondary education and attesting to the national baccalaureate exam, a graduation diploma is issued, conferring the student the right to apply and be admitted into a higher education institution.
Diplomas and degrees: Accredited educational institutions can issue diplomas, certificates, and other documents recognized by the MoECR. The MoECR develops and publishes a document template which all educational institutions must follow. Study documents issued in the format approved by other legal entities are not recognized.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
Higher education in Moldova is provided by public and private higher education institutions with a higher share of institutions (16) and enrolments (84%) provided by the state. Few private HEIs providers (9) exist in Moldova, represented 16% of students’ enrolment in higher education.
Registration and approval: The 2014 Education Code (as amended in 2019) dictates that all non-state educational institutions must apply for authorization and meet minimum standards to operate in Moldova. The authorization process consists of two phases; the Provisional Operation Authorization followed by an accreditation process. First, once the institution is legally constituted under the Civil Law and registered with the competent authority, providers must apply to the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC) for a Provisional Operation Authorization. According to the 2016 GD no. 616, the Provisional Operation Authorization consists of self-assessment and an external evaluation to verify compliance with the minimum requirements that grant the right to start providing educational services provisionally. Higher education institutions will be granted provisional authorization based on fulfilling the minimum criteria established, including quality assurance policies, study programs design according to the National Qualifications Framework, and academic staff qualifications.
Licence: Upon approval, provisional authorization is issued for up to five years. Higher educational institutions must apply for accreditation of the educational institution and study programs after the first promotion of graduates. Accreditation certificates are issued for five years, after which educational institutions must re-apply for authorization.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: See Multi-level regulations.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: All higher education institutions must align their curricula with the National Qualifications Framework for higher education. According to the 2016 GD no. 616, all programs must be previously authorized by the state and are subject to accreditation by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC).
Teaching profession: All academic staff at a higher education institution must comply with the state's minimum experience and training qualifications requirements.
Fee-setting: According to the Education Code, to provide educational services against payment, institutions must enact a contract establishing all the legal rights and duties of the parties (institution, student, parents, or legal representative). The contract must include the duration of studies and specify the tuition fees to be charged. Non-state higher education institutions must also base their tuition fee on the standard cost per pupil established by the state and are required to publish it on the institution's official website.
Admission selection and processes: According to the Education Code, HEIs can determine their admission policies, previously authorized by the MoECR through the approval process based on the nomenclature of the fields of professional training and the specialities. The methodology of admission must be published on the institution's official website two years before its implementation.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: The governing body of an institution of higher education must comprise a Senate, a Strategic and Institutional Development Council, Scientific Council, Faculty Council, Administration Council, and Rector.
Reporting requirements: The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research is responsible for the overall quality of education, including higher education. According to 2016 GD no. 616, all HEIs institutions and academic programs must be certified complying with the accreditation requirements, including external evaluation and self-assessment (internal quality assessment), to ensure compliance with the state minimum quality requirements. HEIs must apply for re-accreditation every five years and follow due process of evaluation.
Inspection: No information was found.
Assessment: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: Accredited HEIs have the right to issue diplomas, certificates, and other study documents. The diploma must be both in Romanian and English and must be registered in the National Register of Qualifications in Higher Education.
Sanctions: If an institution fails to comply with the quality assessment, the government can revoke the authorization with the opinion of the ANACEC. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
3.2 Multi-level regulations
This section covers regulations on the establishment, operation, and quality of non-state institutions from pre-primary to tertiary education level
Taxes and subsidies: An accredited private general educational institution benefits from state support. Depending on the educational institution's legal organization, additional tax exemptions are granted, such as legal entities established as non-commercial organizations or organizations with public utility status.
Quality of teaching and learning
Sanctions: Private educational institutions of all levels may be established, reorganized, and liquidated in the manner provided by the civil legislation and by the Education Code.
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
According to the Regulation on organization and functioning of educational institutions, primary and secondary education, the organization and unauthorized development of paid teaching activities are not allowed in any form. Teaching activities must be organized and carried out only by individuals or obtained the patent to provide educational and training services. It is forbidden to provide educational services to students with whom they interact in direct teaching activities.
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
