The Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) has announced the initiation of amendments to the Education Code. The changes aim to ensure Romanian language study programs for children from the diaspora, inclusion of children with severe disabilities, evaluation of 4th grade students, consolidation of the school network, support measures for young specialists in education, as well as certain adjustments at the level of higher education institutions. The most important proposals were presented by Minister Dan Perciun during a press conference.

“The reforms are based on demographic analyses, recent statistical data, and evaluations of the effectiveness of educational policies. We need to update the Education Code to build a modern, fair, and quality-oriented system, capable of meeting the expectations of children, teachers, and parents,” said Dan Perciun.

1) Romanian language integration programs for children returning from the diaspora

One of the essential changes refers to the organization of Romanian language study programs for children returning from the diaspora and for children of foreign citizens residing in Moldova. This provision was completely absent from legislation, although the number of children returning with their parents is increasing. Without a clear legal basis, schools cannot implement integration programs, and funding remains difficult.

“The new programs will support Romanian language learning, adaptation of children to schools in our country, and their educational integration,” added Perciun.

2) Support groups in general education institutions for children with disabilities

The reform also provides for the creation of support groups in general education institutions for children with severe disabilities. According to the National Social Insurance Company, as of January 1, 2024, Moldova had 11,400 registered children with disabilities. The support groups will be organized in pilot mode starting February 2026, each group including up to six children with severe intellectual disabilities, assisted by two teachers. This service will allow full inclusion of these children in an educational process aligned with their competencies, while they remain part of their enrolled classes and participate in lessons and extracurricular activities with the school community. Eligibility will be strictly monitored with MEC involvement.

“In its current form, the Education Code does not explicitly regulate the organization of specialized support groups in general education, which limits schools’ ability to adequately respond to the complex needs of children with severe or associated disabilities,” noted Perciun.

3) Support classes in auxiliary schools

Another amendment provides for the creation of support classes in auxiliary schools. This ensures that students can continue their studies for three more years after completing the 9th grade in special education. In pilot mode, MEC already offered this possibility in 2025 to graduates of special schools in Chișinău, and now it will be enshrined in the Code.

4) Reintroduction of grading in the 4th grade

The proposed amendments also create the possibility of reintroducing grades in the 4th grade starting September 1, 2026, for exam subjects — Romanian language and mathematics. For the past ten years, primary school teachers have used a system of descriptors (“excellent,” “very good,” etc.).

This year MEC is already piloting grading in the 4th grade in several schools that voluntarily joined the process. A study conducted last year in 268 schools showed that the sudden transition to the grading system in middle school creates stress and adaptation difficulties for students. The gradual introduction of grades is meant to prepare children for this transition.

Once the amendments are adopted and based on pilot results, MEC will decide on the reintroduction of grades for all schools nationwide starting September 2026.