Press release of Ministry of Education, Culture and Research of Moldova

Chisinau, 21 May /MOLDPRES/ – As a result of open letter published on Facebook webpage of group member "Parinti Solidari" (Solidary Parents) to Minister of Education, Culture and Research, Monica Babuc, which was subsequently taken over by several press institutions, we present the following explanations:

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Research initiated procedure of consulting pupils, teachers and parents about necessity of introducing school uniform following multiple referrals of educational community that were addressed during the field visits by management and employees of institution. Also, we note that we have received numerous petitions on this issue from parents and teachers.

The process of consulting opinion of educational community has respected the principles of organising such an exercise, being transparent and informative, voluntary and safe at risk, to extent that best interests of child and other stakeholders have been respected. This is what we convinced when we systematised data and found that 292,693 respondents participated in questionnaire procedure, out of which 282,390 (96.48 per cent) completed questionnaire on paper and 10,303 (3.52 per cent) on – line. There is an overwhelming number of respondents and ministry has an attitude of respect for choices of all participants: 81.39 per cent supporting initiative to introduce uniform, as well as the 18.61 per cent having a different point of view.

Please note that respondents are not anonymous, they are pupils, teaching staff and teachers from all territorial administrative units in the country. Therefore, the results of public consultation are more than representative. The data processing was carried out by support of local specialised bodies in education, which held all questionnaires. The Ministry has, in turn, synthesised all data transmitted locally and can provide concrete info for each district/municipality. On it, we call for respect for work of our colleagues in the territory and within ministry, as well as overwhelming number and option of overwhelming majority of respondents when making generalisations or speculating.

We believe it is important to note that this initiative is not a "new reform in education", but is the expression of the will of a considerable part of society. As specified in press briefing, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research is to make a decision on it, but only after extensive consultations with representatives of educational community, civil society and decision – makers.

We mention that the ministry, through any decision taken, will provide the necessary support and ensure access to education for each child.

In context, we are grateful for announcement of commercial offerings in more educational institutions. The Ministry will take action in case of directors of institutions which, within this public opinion consultation exercise, oblige parents to obtain uniforms from certain economic agents. We recall that ministry has not made any recommendations in this respect yet, while a final decision is to be adopted then.