Meeting of the Working Groups on Education: Chișinău Reiterates Its Call to Respect the Rights of Pupils and Romanian-Language Educational Institutions

On December 9, 2025, a meeting of the education Working Groups was held, with the participation of experts from both banks of the Nistru River.

The discussions focused on the functioning of Romanian-language educational institutions in the Transnistrian region, the respect for pupils’ rights, and the resolution of current technical issues.

Chișinău emphasized the need to cease all forms of pressure on pupils and teaching staff from the eight Romanian-language educational institutions, including the cessation of the illegal practice of registering minors in unlawful military structures.

Progress was noted in the dialogue regarding the building complex of the „Evrika” Theoretical Lyceum in Rîbnița, as well as the progress of the technical assessment and delimitation procedures for the property. At the same time, the importance of returning the „Stefan cel Mare și Sfânt” Theoretical Lyceum to its building in Grigoriopol was reiterated, in accordance with international obligations and the best interests of children.

Attention was also drawn to the impact of the unilateral increase in utility tariffs applied to Romanian-language educational institutions, with a request to restore the conditions that were in place until the end of 2023. A solution was also requested to ensure access for pupils of the “Lucian Blaga” Theoretical Lyceum in Tiraspol to adequate facilities for physical education classes.

Regarding the issues raised by Tiraspol, it was noted that young people and children from the Transnistrian region benefit from all opportunities offered by the national legal framework: access to educational institutions on the right bank of the Nistru River, study programs abroad in accordance with European standards and the Bologna system, as well as opportunities for integration into the labor market. Admission procedures to higher education institutions are applied uniformly throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

Following the discussions, the experts expressed their willingness to continue the dialogue at a technical level to find practical solutions that will ensure the protection of pupils' rights and the proper functioning of educational institutions.