Education System Moldova
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The education system of Moldova described and compared with the Dutch system Flow chart | Evaluation chart Education system Moldova This document contains information on the education system of Moldova. We explain the Dutch equivalent of the most common qualifications from Moldova for the purpose of admission to Dutch higher education. Disclaimer We assemble the information for these descriptions of education systems with the greatest care. However, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences of errors or incomplete information in this document. Copyright With the exception of images and illustrations, the content of this publication is subject to the Creative Commons Name NonCommercial 3.0 Unported licence. Visit www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/copyright for more information on the reuse of this publication. Education system Moldova | Nuffic | 1st edition, November 2019 | version 1, November 2019 2 Flow chart | Evaluation chart Education system Moldova Background • Country: Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova (Republica Moldova). Moldova used to form part of the Soviet Union, but has been a sovereign state since 1991. Until that time, it used the education system of the Soviet Union. The first 'national' education act was introduced in 1992. This was modified substantially in 2005 due to the country's adoption of the Bologna process. Note: The area of Transnistria in the east of the country is a self-proclaimed independent state recognised by very few other countries. Although it is formally under Moldovan control, the central government holds little sway. The accreditation of institutions in this area is problematic. • Responsible for education: the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, Ministerul Educatiei, Culturii şi Cercetării. • EU membership: Moldova is not an EU Member State. The country signed an association treaty with the European Union in 2014. It is not a formal candidate for membership. • Bologna process: Moldova has been a member of the Bologna process and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) since 2005. A new education act (the Education Code 152/2014) to bring the country's higher education system into line with European standards came into effect in 2014. See also the page about Moldova on the EHEA website. • International treaties: Moldova ratified and implemented to the Lisbon Recognition Convention in 1999. The country has cooperation agreements with 25 countries in the field of education. Under the terms of an agreement with Romania, the bacalaureat (secondary education) diplomas of both countries are considered equal and there are schemes for young people from Moldova to study in Romania. • Compulsory education: ages 7-18. • Language of instruction: in principle, Romanian, but the law makes allowance for instruction in minority languages such as Russian, Ukrainian or Gagauz. • School year: starts in September, 33-35 weeks of class in total. • School exams: schools generally award secondary school diplomas in July. • Academic year: starts in September, two 15-week semesters. Education system Moldova | Nuffic | 1st edition, November 2019 | version 1, November 2019 3 Flow chart | Evaluation chart Education system Moldova Flow chart: education system Moldova Diplomă de doctor L8 (PhD) 3 postgraduate Diplomă (de studii superioare) de master L7 Diplomă de licenţă – studii integrate L7 (university education) (university education) 1½-2 Diplomă (de studii superioare) de licenţă L6 (university education) undergraduate 3-4 5-6 Post-secondary non-tertiary L4 technical vocational education Diplomă de bacalaureat L4 2-3 Diplomă de studii profesionale L3 (post-secondary technical vocational Certificat de studii liceale L4 education ) (upper secondary education) Certificat de calificare L3 (secondary technical vocational 3 education) 2-3 4-5 Certificat de studii gimnaziale L2 (lower secondary education ) 5 Primary education L1 4 0 Duration of education Education system Moldova | Nuffic | 1st edition, November 2019 | version 1, November 2019 4 Flow chart | Evaluation chart Education system Moldova Evaluation chart The left-hand column in the table below lists the most common foreign qualifications. The other columns show the Dutch equivalent along with the corresponding levels in the Dutch and European qualifications frameworks. Foreign qualifications Dutch equivalent and NLQF level EQF level Certificat de studii gimnaziale, 3 years of general - 2 certificate of lower secondary secondary education education (the level has not yet been determined) Diplomă de studii profesionale, MBO diploma, qualification 3/4 3/4 diploma of vocational education level 3 or 4 Diplomă de bacalaureat, VWO diploma 4+ 4 baccalaureate diploma Diplomă (de studii superioare) de HBO or WO bachelor’s 6 6 licenţă, diploma of licence (of degree higher education) Diplomă (de studii superioare) de HBO or WO master’s degree 7 7 master, master's diploma (of higher education) Note: • The information provided in the table is a general recommendation from which no rights may be derived. • NLQF = Dutch Qualifications Framework. EQF = European Qualifications Framework. • The EQF or NLQF level is not so much a reflection of study load or content; rather, it is an indication of a person’s knowledge and skills after having completed a certain programme of study. • Information about Dutch equivalent qualifications can be found on our website: education and diplomas the Netherlands. • The Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market (SBB), evaluates statements on foreign qualifications and training at VMBO and MBO level. The evaluation may vary if SBB evaluates the diploma for admission to VET schools or the labour market in the Netherlands. Education system Moldova | Nuffic | 1st edition, November 2019 | version 1, November 2019 5 Flow chart | Evaluation chart Education system Moldova Primary and secondary education Primary education Primary education in Moldova (învăţămîntul primar) starts at the age of 7 and lasts for 4 years (Years 1-4). Classes are taught by generalist teachers. At the end of this phase, pupils sit tests in calculus and their native language (Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian or Gagauz), and additionally in Romanian if this is not their native language. Secondary education Secondary education comprises 2 phases: • Lower secondary education (învăţămîntul gimnazial) starts at the age of 11 and lasts for 5 years (Years 5-9). • Upper secondary education (învăţămîntul liceal) starts at the age of 16 and lasts for 3 years (Years 10-12). Lower secondary education Pupils receive lower secondary education at a gimnaziu. At the end of this phase, they sit a national exam in 3 subjects: mathematics, their native language and by rotation: history, foreign language, geography, biology, chemistry and physics. If Romanian is not their native language, they sit an additional exam in Romanian. On completion of this phase, pupils transfer to general upper secondary education or a form of vocational training. • Duration: 5 years. • Content: a wide variety of subjects, ranging from mathematics to languages and social and scientific subjects. 80-85% of the subject cluster consists of compulsory subjects, the rest are elective subjects. Diploma: Certificat de studii gimnaziale, the certificate of completed lower secondary education. In terms of level, the Certificat de studii gimnaziale is comparable to 3 years of general secondary education. Upper secondary education Pupils receive upper secondary education at a liceu. • Duration: 3 years. Note: In some cases, part-time upper secondary education may be available. If this is the case, this phase takes an additional year to complete (Year 13). Until 2011, the upper secondary education phase took 2 years, and the graduates received the Attestat de studii medii de cultură generală. Education system Moldova | Nuffic | 1st edition, November 2019 | version 1, November 2019 6 Flow chart | Evaluation chart Education system Moldova • Content: pupils select a profile from art (arte), social (uman), science (real) or sport (sport). They take both general and profile subjects. 75-80% of their time is spent on compulsory subjects, the rest on elective subjects. At the end of this phase, they sit the national baccalaureate exam, the examenul de bacalaureat. This exam, which is administered by the National Agency for Curriculum and Evaluation, covers at least 4 subjects: the native language, 1 foreign language, history or mathematics (depending on the selected profile) and 1 elective subject. Pupils for whom the language of instruction is a minority language sit an additional exam in a 5th subject: Romanian. Diploma: Diplomă de bacalaureat (baccalaureate diploma), which provides access to higher education. In terms of level, the Diplomă de bacalaureat is comparable to a VWO diploma. Note: If pupils do not sit the bacalaureat exam or fail it, they are awarded a Certificat de studii liceale (the certificate of completed upper secondary education). This does not grant admission to higher education, but does give access to vocational training. Secondary technical vocational education After 9 years of primary and lower secondary education, pupils may elect to transfer to a vocational school (scoală profesionale), college (colegiu) or excellence centre (centru de excelenţă). There, they have a choice of: • secondary technical vocational education; • post-secondary technical vocational education. Secondary technical vocational education Programmes in secondary technical