Around 4 thousand pupils and students from the Transnistrian region have been integrated into the national education system

Approximately 4 000 children and young people from the Transnistrian region and the municipality of Bender are integrated into the national education system, studying in general, vocational and higher education institutions. This figure also includes around 2 000 pupils enrolled in Romanian-language educational institutions located in the region and administered by the Ministry of Education and Research. 

In the 2025-2026 academic year, 971 pupils residing in the Transnistrian region and the municipality of Bender attended general education institutions located on the right bank of the Nistru River. The majority were enrolled in educational institutions in the Dubăsari, Anenii Noi and Rezina districts and were funded under the same conditions as all other pupils within the public education system, without distinction based on their place of residence. 

In addition, 346 young people residing in the Transnistrian region were enrolled in state-funded places at vocational and technical education institutions. The average annual cost of educating one student amounts to 26 000 lei in vocational schools and 32 500 lei in colleges and centres of excellence. 

At the same time, 674 young people from the region are studying in state-funded places at public higher education institutions, including as part of the compensatory year scheme. The costs of their education, scholarships and accommodation in student dormitories are estimated at more than 37,4 million lei. These measures contribute to expanding educational opportunities and integrating young people into the unified educational space of the Republic of Moldova. 

In order to facilitate further education and the use of the acquired qualifications outside of the Republic of Moldova, graduates of educational institutions from the Transnistrian region may benefit from the mechanism for the issuance and apostille of neutral-format diplomas. As of 30 June 2026, a total of 681 neutral-format diplomas had been apostilled, including 26 during the first half of 2026. This mechanism does not imply the recognition of diplomas issued by non-accredited structures in the region, but it provides diploma holders a neutral-format education document that can be apostilled by the Republic of Moldova, thereby expanding their educational opportunities at the international level.