Moldova schools to shift under Ministry of Education by 2027

The Moldovan government has approved the ‘Restart în educație’ reform, which will place all schools under the Ministry of Education and Research starting in 2027. The change creates 35 Territorial Education Agencies (ATE) that will replace existing regional and municipal education directorates and become the founders of primary schools, gymnasiums, high schools and special‑education institutions.

ATE will manage school financing directly from the state budget on a per‑pupil basis, approve class numbers and staffing schemes, set school districts, monitor compulsory attendance, oversee infrastructure projects, combat absenteeism and bullying, and support children with special educational needs. Directors of the agencies will be selected through competitions and serve five‑year terms, renewable once. Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun said the reform aims to guarantee uniform quality standards for every child regardless of where they live.

The reform also mandates greater transparency of budgets and public reporting, higher salaries for staff, digitalisation of processes and a performance‑based management model.