2025

Memorandum for Accelerating Dual Education in the Republic of Moldova

Young people in the Republic of Moldova benefit from new training opportunities through dual education, with the launch of the project "Accelerating Dual Vocational Education in the Republic of Moldova". Its aim is to improve the employment prospects and professional insertion of graduates by strengthening the link between education and the economic environment.

A memorandum in this regard was signed on 21/08/2025 between the Ministry of Education and Research, Liechtenstein-Moldova Development Services, the Public Association "Education for Development" and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova. The project envisages an increase in the admission rate to dual vocational education by up to 15% by 2028, improving the employability of young people, and involving new companies.

Introduction of three new qualifications in the field of green economy and food sector

The Government of the Republic of Moldova approved on 11/06/2025 the addition of three new qualifications to the “Nomenclature of Vocational Training Fields and Trades/Professions”. The update comes in response to requests from vocational education institutions and economic agents.

The new qualifications are: heating and solar equipment installer; shallow geothermal systems and heat pump installer; food product receptionist/dispatcher.

2024

In 2024, The Ministry of Education and Research has introduced key reforms in vocational and adult education, including free professional retraining for teachers, the establishment of a national education and leadership institute, the expansion of vocational training specialisations, and the approval of a new regulatory framework for adult education:

• Free Professional Retraining Courses for 1,200 Teachers – In 2024, approximately 1,200 teachers from general and technical vocational education benefited from free professional retraining courses. The Ministry of Education and Research fully covered the programme costs. This opportunity was available to teachers enrolling in 60-credit professional retraining programmes related to their initial field of study.
• Launch of the National Institute for Education and Leadership (INEL) – the newly established institute aims to train 1,000 mentors, develop mentoring programmes and partnerships for pedagogical practice, and promote the teaching profession among young people.
• New Specialisations and Qualifications Added to the Nomenclature of Fields in Vocational Education and Training Programmes  – the official lists of vocational training fields have been updated to include new specialisations aligned with ISCED levels 4 and 5. These additions aim to prepare skilled professionals in fields such as arts, construction, energy, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. Among the new programmes are Agricultural Technology and Digitalisation, Cultural Services Planning, Vocational Teacher Training, and Renewable Energy Systems.
• Approval of the New Adult Education Regulation – the government has adopted a revised version of the Adult Education Regulation, defining key aspects such as training programme types and duration, micro-qualifications, and the evaluation and certification of adult professional training.

2023

In 2023, vocational education and training in the Republic of Moldova was subjected to reforms aimed at modernising and making this sector more efficient, especially by promoting dual education, strengthening institutions and adjusting the financial and curricular framework. These reforms were initiated to respond to the needs of the labour market and improve the practical training of young people.

A. Development of dual education

One of the most important reforms in 2023 was the implementation of Law no. 110/2022 on dual education, which aims at the deeper integration of professional training in the economic environment. In this sense, important measures have been adopted for the efficient realisation of this type of education:

• Government Decision no. 97/2023 established the Register of dual education units, using the Education Management Information System (SIME). It is to be widely implemented from 1 September 2024.
• Criteria regarding the compliance of economic units for participation in dual education have been established. Thus, 92 economic units were evaluated, and 48 of them received certificates of compliance.
• The regulation on the compensation of the expenses of the economic units involved in dual education was approved, facilitating the reimbursement of the costs borne by the companies. Between August and September 2023, 26 economic units received compensation of around 3.5 million lei (approx. 180.5 thousand euro).

B. Normative framework and guidelines for dual education

As part of the reform, two essential practical guides were developed and published:

• The guide for drawing up the professional training contract for dual education, which supports pupils, economic units and educational institutions in order to perfect the professional training contract.
• Guide to drawing up the cooperation agreement between economic units and VET institutions, clarifying the legal and procedural framework for collaboration between them.

C.  Reform of the financing of vocational education and training institutions

Following an extensive analysis of the costs of vocational education and training institutions, in 2023 the Government Decision no. 628/2023, which establishes the financing methodology of these institutions was approved. The new methodology allocates resources according to the National Plan for the training of specialised staff, ensuring adequate funding for professional training in accordance with the needs of the labour market.

D. Consolidation of Centers of Excellence

In 2023, the consolidation of centers of excellence continued, allocating funds of approximately 1 million lei (approx. 51.5 thousand euro) for the training of over 600 teaching staff in 8 centers of excellence.

E. Reorganisation of the network of institutions

Another element of the 2023 reform was the reorganisation of the network of vocational education and training institutions:

• Government Decision no. 793/2022 transferred 8 VET institutions under the authority of the Ministry of Education and Research, which were previously subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.
• Also, three professional schools (from Cimișlia, Drochia, and Călărași) were liquidated to make the professional-technical education system more efficient.

F. Other reforms 

Among the other reform measures adopted in 2023 are:

• Updating the Framework Plan for Secondary, Post-secondary and Post-secondary Non-tertiary Vocational Education (Order no. 1003/2023);
• Allocation of an additional budget of 36 million lei (approx. 1.85 million euro) for the complementary financing of the institutions;
• Curriculum development for 90% of the 220 programmes offered by vocational education and training institutions;
• Increasing the salaries of management personnel and other categories, including the coefficient for tutor activity.