Moldovan PM demands working out mechanism of providing scholarships based on performance, fairness

Chisinau, 10 September /MOLDPRES/ - The concept of a new mechanism of providing scholarships in the national education system was considered at the government today. Prime Minister Pavel Filip said that the present legal framework in the sector was obsolete and the scholarships were offered unfairly. At the same time, the scholarships do not stimulate the performance, being provided even for the average mark of 5.8, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.    

„Scholarships are aimed at encouraging the knowledge – maybe it is more fairly to provide less but higher scholarships, for those who deserve them. For us, education is a priority; therefore, we should understand the reasons for the present difficulties in this system and start from the removal of constraints,” the PM said. 

Under the new concept, a single regulation of providing scholarships for all levels and specializations is to be worked out; it will ensure the fairness in the national education system and will stimulate the performance.  

Also, the categories of scholarships will be optimized. According to the new concept, there will be a single merit scholarship – Excellence Scholarship of the Republic, instead of the present four merit scholarships.   

The concept also sees the providing of attractive scholarships for fields of professional training needed for the state, in which deficit of staff is recorded. The prime minister demanded creation of a working group which will carry out a comprehensive analysis according to sectors, will identify the number of specialists necessary for the economy and will give final touches to the concept of new mechanism of providing scholarships.    

The government has recently increased the scholarships of pupils and students by five per cent, in order to stimulate the academic performances and enhance the attractiveness of the higher education institutions and vocational schools.