At the level of the general education institution, there are:

a) the board of directors of the educational institution, with a decision-making role in the administrative field, which is made up of: the director, a deputy director, a representative delegated by the public administration of the first-level administrative-territorial unit in which the institution is located, three representatives of parents, delegated by the general assembly of parents, two representatives of teaching staff, delegated by the teachers' council, and a representative of pupils, delegated by the pupils' council of the institution;

b) the teachers' council of the educational institution, with a decision-making role in the educational field, which is made up of the teaching staff of the respective institution and is led by the director of the educational institution.

At the level of the early childhood education institution, the following administrative bodies are in place:

a) the board of directors of the early childhood education institution, with a decision-making role in the administrative field, which is made up of: director, methodologist, a representative delegated by the public administration from the first-level administrative-territorial unit in which the institution is located, two parents, delegates from the general assembly of parents, two representatives of the teaching staff, delegates from the pedagogical council.

b) the pedagogical council of the early childhood education institution, with a decision-making role in the educational field, which is made up of the teaching staff from the respective institution and is led by the director of the educational institution.

The board of directors of the private general education institution additionally includes a representative of the founder.

The board of directors is led by a person other than the director of the educational institution, designated by the members of the board by secret vote. Representatives of civil society and the business environment may participate in the meetings of the board of directors. The board of directors operates on the basis of a framework regulation approved by the Ministry of Education and Research.

The board of directors of the general education institution has the following competencies:

a) participates, through its representatives, in the competition committee for the appointment of the director of the educational institution;

b) participates, through its representatives, in the evaluation of the director of the educational institution;

c) approves the institution's budget;

d) approves the institution's development plan;

e) manages financial resources from sources other than the budgetary ones;

f) approves the school component of the framework plan at the institution's level;

g) approves the standards for class size, the number of classes, and the institution’s staffing structure.

The management staff of the general education institution consists of the director and deputy directors.

The director of the general education institution has the following powers:

a) represents the institution;

b) issues orders, signs legal documents issued by the institution on behalf of the institution;

c) hires, evaluates, promotes and dismisses the institution's staff;

d) is responsible for executing the institution’s budget;

e) develops the institution’s staffing structure;

f) develops and submits to the administrative council for approval the school component of the curriculum;

g) develops the standards for class size and the number of classes;

h) ensures that the institution’s policy and internal planning documents include a commitment to preventing and combating violence, including bullying, as well as the measures required to uphold this commitment.

In the management activity, the director of the institution is assisted by one or more deputy directors.

The number of deputy director positions in public educational institutions is established by the local specialised body in the field of education, according to the regulations approved by the Ministry of Education and Research.

Requirements for appointment

The position of director and deputy director of a general education institution is filled through a competitive selection process, according to the Regulation on the organisation and conduct of competitions for these positions. The director and deputy directors of a public general education institution are appointed to the position for a five-year term.

The competition is organised and conducted based on the following principles:

1) open competition – informing society about the management positions for which a competition is organised, ensuring free and equal access to participation in the competition for any person who meets the established conditions;

2) competence and professional merit – selecting the most competent persons based on clearly defined criteria and a single evaluation procedure;

3) impartiality – applying selection criteria without discrimination;

4) transparency – presenting information regarding the organisation and conduct of the competition to all interested persons;

5) equal access to the position of director/deputy director – ensuring access to the position of director/deputy director of any person who meets the conditions established by the Regulation, regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic, social, social status, mother tongue, religion or beliefs, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, marital status, health status and HIV status, political opinion, wealth or any other criterion.

A person who cumulatively meets the following conditions may apply for the position of director/deputy director of a general education institution:

1) holds the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova. Candidates for the positions of directors of private educational institutions may be exempted from this condition;

2) holds a master's degree (ISCED level 7) or equivalent. For candidates applying for the position of director of a public ante-pre-school or pre-school institution in rural areas, following an extension of the competition in accordance with the Regulation or in the case of a repeated competition, applicants with a bachelor’s degree (ISCED level 6) or with specialised secondary pedagogical education (college graduates) may also be admitted.

3) has at least three years of professional experience in a management position or in teaching. Candidates for the positions of director/deputy director in private educational institutions are an exception to this condition;

4) on the date of expiry of the deadline for submitting applications, has not reached the age of 65;

5) has knowledge of the Romanian language (for employment in localities inhabited by various minority groups where instruction is provided in native languages, or in institutions where the language of instruction is other than Romanian – the candidate must possess Romanian at a communication level as well as the respective language);

6) is declared medically fit to hold the position, according to a medical certificate issued in accordance with the law by a family doctor;

7) has no criminal record;

8) is not subject to any prohibition from holding managerial positions, etc. (all conditions are specified in the Regulation on the organisation and conduct of the competition for the positions of director and deputy director in general education institutions).

Conditions of service

The positions of director and deputy director are filled through a competition, based on the criteria of professional and managerial competence. The regulations for organising and conducting the competition for the position of director and deputy director are approved by the Ministry of Education and Research. At least one deputy director responsible for the educational process must have pedagogical studies.

The director and deputy directors of the public general education institution are appointed for a term of 5 years. Upon the expiration of this term, the individual employment contract of the head terminates by law, the position becoming vacant.

The director of the general education institution concludes an individual employment contract with the local specialised body in the field of education, and the deputy director – with the director of the general education institution.

A director may be released from their position before the expiry of the contract under the conditions and grounds provided by labour legislation, including:

a) financial violations;

b) breaches of professional ethics;

c) failure to meet current management standards;

d) violation of the rights of children, pupils, staff, or parents;

e) receiving a repeated “unsatisfactory” rating in evaluations conducted by the Ministry of Education and Research.

From January 1, 2025, the fixed salaries for teachers, educators, and managerial staff vary according to their teaching grade:

• Teachers without a teaching grade: 9,200–10,780 MDL (€466–546*);
• Grade II teachers: 11,025–12,970 MDL (€558–657*);
• Grade I teachers: 12,675–14,950 MDL (€642–757*);
• Senior grade teachers: 14,250–16,840 MDL (€721–853*).

Salary bonuses for managerial positions are as follows:

• Grade II: 1,000 MDL (€50*);
• Grade I: 1,500 MDL (€75*);
• Senior grade: 2,000 MDL (€101*).

* as for 01.08.2025 according to National Bank of Moldova

Source: Ministry of Education and Research

Thus, the salary level depends on the teaching grade, but also on the managerial position held within the institution.

The teaching norm of the director and their teaching hours are established by the job description, based on the norms approved by the Ministry of Education and Research jointly with the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family.

The director, as the head of the institution, has the following duties:

a) ensures the institution functions in accordance with regulatory framework in force for primary and secondary general education;

b) coordinates the preparation of the annual management plan and the institution’s development programme;

c) oversees all educational and administrative activities and the preservation and use of the institution’s assets;

d) informs the community and stakeholders annually, by the end of May, regarding the number of classes for the upcoming academic year;

e) ensures the safety of pupils and staff on the premises;

f) maintains and develops the institution’s teaching and material resources;

g) manages the operation of dormitories and canteens, if present;

h) ensures implementation of child protection measures;

i) enforces decisions of the teaching council and administrative council;

j) manages public procurement in accordance with applicable legislation;

k) ensures confidentiality and security of personal data in accordance with data protection law;

l) establishes internal mechanisms for collecting data in the Automated Education Management Information System (SIME), the Automated Data Processing System (SAPD), and other information systems, including national exams, and monitors the accuracy of information entered;

m) annually prepares the class allocation scheme and the number of classes according to the institution’s capacity, submitting it for review by the administrative council and approval by the local specialized education authority;

n) presents reports on the institution’s activities, educational quality, and performance to the teaching council, administrative council, and parents’ general assembly, and makes them publicly available via notice boards or online (Standard Rules for the Organisation and Functioning of Primary and Secondary Education Institutions).

The retirement of management personnel in general education is carried out in accordance with the general legislation on the public pension system.