Moldova education reform progress

In July 2026 Moldova reinstated numeric grades for fourth‑grade pupils in core subjects, ending a decade of descriptive assessments. After a pilot program involving hundreds of schools and teachers, the Ministry of Education explained that the change provides clearer evaluation and supports the transition to gymnasium. The same month, the Moldovan Parliament prepared to review the “Restart in Education” reform, which would consolidate the 35 regional and municipal education directorates into fewer territorial agencies directly under the ministry. Opposition parties criticized the proposal, while officials rejected online misinformation claiming forced mixed‑grade classrooms, teacher cuts, or school closures. The clarification emphasized that the reform only affects very small schools, preserves existing teacher contracts, and does not mandate grade merging.