| Education System in Moldova |
In Moldova, a landlocked Baltic state bordering on Romania to the west, progress is being made to returning the standard of education to what is once was. This is now compulsory from ages 6 to 17, and begins at primary school from ages 6 to 10.
Lower secondary school completes the preparatory stage for the following 3 years. Here students complete their common curriculum of traditional academic subjects as their aptitudes and likely career outcomes become clearer.
Students continuing with purely academic education complete their final 2 to 3 years at either scola media or lyceums. In the latter instance at around age 18 they may qualify to apply to go on to tertiary education armed with a diploma bacalaureat.
Alternatively, they may attend a school of trades for year 12 after completing scola media. Or they may spend grades 10 to 12 at a vocational school, following which they will be free to study at tertiary level, even though they did not receive a diploma bacalaureat this time.
In December 2010, the Republic of Moldova announced an initiative to create a sustainable framework for improved vocational training especially in the rural areas, and thereby stimulate economic growth substantially.
There are two kinds of tertiary education in Moldova. Colleges offer higher technical / vocational training in a wide range of occupations and their programs typically last between 2 to 3 years. Some lead to qualifications at undergraduate level too.
There are also a number of private and state-funded universities, of which Moldova State University established in 1946 is arguably the most impressive. It has 11 faculties, and has even been featured on a national postage stamp. Its standards are continuously improving, and it is to be hoped that it will continue underpinning this emerging nation's future.
