More public nurseries likely to help increase birth rate - study

Chisinau, April 6 / MOLDPRES /- Expansion of nursery services is a necessity that would support parents to have the desired number of children and to achieve their professional and personal aspirations. These are the conclusions of a study Family policies for a desired fertility: more nurseries in support of parents, carried out by the UN Population Fund Moldova (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Center for Development Partnership (CPD).

According to the study, in 2020, only 11% of the total number of children up to 3 years old were enrolled in early education institutions.

"UNFPA, through the Demographic Resilience Program, aims to support the Government of the Republic of Moldova to respond to current demographic challenges, providing solutions for families to have the desired number of children. Gender-sensitive family policies, which involve family-friendly jobs and affordable crèche services for children under 3, are key components in this regard. These measures would help women and men to reconcile family and professional life, without having to make sacrifices in this regard, "said UNFPA Resident Representative Nigina Abaszada.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2020, almost all women with children up to 3 years old were not employed. According to the Generations and Gender Study, in the Republic of Moldova more than half of the population considers that the ideal number of children in the family is at least three, while in reality they have less than two.

The CPD's National Nursery Fund study shows that in order to create more nursery services and thus encourage the desired fertility, central authorities need to allocate more financial resources, but there is currently no dedicated budget line. crèches, these being included in the financing line of kindergartens.

Photo: UNFPA