EU, UNICEF and UN Human Rights Moldova join efforts to support the education of Roma children and refugee children
Chișinău, 7 May 2026. Hundreds of children in Moldova are still missing out on education, not because they lack potential, but because the system has not consistently adapted to their requirements. Roma and refugee children remain among those most at risk of being left behind.
In response, the new European Union-funded initiative “Strengthening Moldova’s education system for the most disadvantaged children”, co-funded and implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Human Rights Moldova, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, was launched to strengthen the education system and make it work for those it currently misses.
At its core, the project addresses a complex and urgent need: to strengthen the capacity of the education system to become inclusive for Roma and refugee children, in line with the European Child Guarantee.
By mid-2027, the project will integrate the Accelerated Learning Programme into the national system, a flexible approach that helps out-of-school children catch up and return to formal education. It will also introduce a human rights-based approach to education in seven pilot schools, supporting their transformation into human rights-friendly schools where every child is accepted and encouraged to reach their full potential. Additionally, the project will establish a coordinated data collection and monitoring mechanism to better track participation and prevent school dropout.
These efforts respond to persistent barriers affecting Roma children, including poverty, low parental literacy, long-standing marginalization, discrimination, and limited acceptance within the school community, factors that often push children to contribute to household income and leave school early.
„Ensuring equitable access to quality education for every child, leaving no one behind, is not optional, it’s a mandatory requirement of any modern, inclusive society, especially for EU member states and for countries which aim at joining the European Union, which is first and foremost a Union of values. Education is not only about knowledge. It is about equal opportunity, dignity and fairness. An education system accomplishes its mission only if it is able to serve those who face the greatest barriers: children from low-income families, children with disabilities, those from minority communities, and others at risk of exclusion”, said Julda Kielyte, Team Leader for Inclusive and Competitive Growth at the EU Delegation to Moldova
At the event, Ludmila Pavlov, Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Education and Research, stated: “Through the Accelerated Learning Programme, we aim to provide not only knowledge, but also confidence, motivation and support for the social and educational integration of every child. Accelerated learning means real opportunities, inclusion and hope.”
“The change we aim for is specific: children who are currently invisible must be identified and reached. Those who have fallen behind must regain foundational skills through the Accelerated Learning Programme. Schools must become environments where inclusion is operational, not declarative—reflected in policies, teaching practices, and daily interactions,” said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in Moldova.
“We are excited to be joining efforts to strengthen an education system where all children—including the most vulnerable Roma girls and boys, as well as refugees—can access quality learning. Our vision is of an education system that is resilient, compliant with human rights, values diversity, embraces inclusion, and nurtures every child’s full potential. By piloting human rights–friendly schools, we will also contribute with valuable insights to the curriculum reform led by the Ministry of Education and Research”, said Bea Ferenci, Head of UN Human Rights Moldova
“The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection supports this initiative aimed at strengthening Moldova’s education system for the most disadvantaged children, which will be implemented in seven educational institutions across seven localities of the country. At the same time, strong intersectoral collaboration is essential to ensure comprehensive support and protection for children by using all available community-based mechanisms, including referrals to social services,” emphasized Ina Scaticailov, Senior Consultant, Child Rights Protection and Families with Children Policies Directorate, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova
The project will be piloted in the following educational institutions:
- PI “Ivan Bondarev” Gymnasium, Basarabeasca
- PI “Vasile Alecsandri” Lyceum, Călărași
- PI “Grigore Vieru” Gymnasium, Edineț
- PI “Mircea Eliade” Lyceum, Nisporeni
- PI “Mihai Eminescu” Lyceum, Otaci
- PI “Dimitrie Cantemir” Lyceum, Rîșcani
- PI “Aleksandr Pușkin” Lyceum, Soroca
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