Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear teachers and students,
Today, we are launching something truly special—the Ajută un elev campaign. This is not just another initiative; it is a promise. A promise that no student in Moldova has to struggle alone. A promise that we will lift each other up, because when one of us succeeds, we all do.
Mathematics is a subject that sparks passion in some and panic in others. I know this feeling well. Having a degree in a STEAM field, I still remember the moments when a concept suddenly clicked, when a problem that seemed impossible finally made sense – and this usually happened when I was working through it with a friend!
Right now, more than half of Moldovan students struggle to solve basic math problems. And only one in 100 students reaches the highest level of math performance. These are the PISA results for 2022, and this year, between March and May, Moldovan students aged 15 will participate in the PISA evaluation for the 5th time.
These numbers are not just statistics. These are students who could become engineers, scientists, architects—if only they approach these struggles with a different mindset.
And that’s what we’re all about today. Not making math harder and elitist, but making it more approachable. Taking what seems overwhelming and breaking it down, step by step, until we find a solution. That’s what this campaign is doing—not just for math, but for the way we think, the way we help, the way we grow as a society. Not focusing on what students can’t do, but on what they can achieve. Because in life, just like in math, problems seem smaller when we face them together.
UNICEF works worldwide to ensure that children not only attend school but also achieve proficiency in essential skills like reading and mathematics, and that’s why we are delighted to be part of this initiative.
Six hundred student mentors from high schools across the country have already stepped forward, ready to help their younger peers navigate math with confidence. And standing behind them, 300 dedicated mathematics teachers will guide and nurture this process, ensuring that learning is not just about formulas, but about connection.
This is how we all grow.
Let’s make this a campaign that transforms futures. Let’s create a Moldova where no student struggles alone. Let’s show that education is not just about learning, but about lifting each other up.
Together, we can make a difference.
Thank you.
