The Bureau for Reintegration Policies draws attention to both the positive developments and the persistent challenges faced by Romanian-language educational institutions operating under the Ministry of Education and Research in difficult conditions on the left bank of the Dniester River and in the municipality of Bender, TRIBUNA reports.

According to the Bureau, for the first time in the past fifteen years, the total number of children studying in these schools has exceeded 2,000 — reaching 2,041 students. This growth, though gradual, confirms that parents continue to choose institutions where the educational process is conducted in Romanian, following curricula approved by the Ministry of Education and Research, which offer real prospects for the future. This trend is especially valuable in the broader context of demographic decline and the steady decrease in the number of children across the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.

“Despite these positive trends, the institutions face major challenges. Five out of the eight schools operate in rented spaces that are unsuitable for educational activities, do not meet modern standards, and are insufficient to support the natural development of children. This situation is the result of artificial pressures and obstacles imposed by Tiraspol, which blocks the return of original school buildings or the provision of appropriate facilities, forcing students and teachers to work in inadequate conditions.

Against this backdrop, it is all the more encouraging that parents continue to enroll their children in Romanian-language schools, which remain the only safe and viable alternative after the so-called regional structures have gradually shut down Moldovan educational institutions that use Cyrillic script. These eight Romanian-language schools today represent not only an educational option but also a guarantee of the future for children in the Transnistrian region, ensuring their right to quality education in line with national, European, and international standards.

The authorities of the Republic of Moldova reaffirm their commitment to supporting these institutions through concrete measures and modernization projects, so that every child can benefit from a safe and decent educational environment, despite all artificially generated obstacles,” the Bureau’s statement reads.