Internal and external evaluation of teaching staff in general education is conducted annually based on the Evaluation Methodology approved by the Ministry of Education and Research. 

External evaluation of teachers is carried out every five years by the authorised bodies, following the same methodology. This process mandatorily includes consultation with students, parents, and other teaching staff within the institution (Education Code).

The evaluation procedure, both internal and external, applies to all general education institutions without exception, regardless of organisational form or ownership, including their branches.

The forms of external evaluation are as follows:

a) external evaluation for provisional authorisation to operate;

b) external evaluation for accreditation;

c) periodic external evaluation.

Internal evaluation is a self-assessment procedure conducted by a specially appointed commission at the end of the school year, based on the systematisation of data regarding the development and outcomes of the educational process.

The internal evaluation commission is established annually by order of the institution’s director and includes members of the management team, teaching staff with administrative responsibilities, a representative of the Pupils’ Council (for gymnasium and lyceum), a representative of the Parents’ Council, and, where appropriate, a representative of the local public authority or an NGO from the locality. 

The number of commission members varies from three to seven, depending on the capacity of the institution.

External evaluation for accreditation follows the procedure for provisional authorisation and must take place no later than five years after authorisation.

Institution heads or founders request accreditation evaluation by submitting an application and evaluation file to the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC).

Periodic external evaluation involves analysing all aspects contributing to the design, organisation, and implementation of the educational process in an institution. 

ANACEC reserves the right to choose the form of periodic external evaluation:

a) by reviewing the evaluation file within the relevant department without a site visit;

b) by reviewing the file and conducting a site visit to the institution (Evaluation Methodology approved by the Ministry of Education and Research).

Upon initiation of the external evaluation procedure, the president of ANACEC issues an order to start the evaluation and establish the Evaluation Commission. The commission comprises an odd number of members, but no fewer than three, depending on the type of external evaluation and the institution’s capacity, including:

a) Commission Chair;

b) Commission members.

Members are primarily employees of ANACEC’s relevant department. If necessary, the commission may include experts from ANACEC’s Registry of Evaluators, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Research, local specialised education authorities, and reputable specialists from general education.

Quality evaluation in vocational education and training focuses on:

a) institutional capacity;

b) educational effectiveness, including learning outcomes;

c) quality of vocational training programmes;

d) institutional quality management;

e) consistency between internal evaluation and actual conditions.

Quality evaluation in vocational education and training includes:

a) evaluation of vocational training programmes;

b) evaluation of institutions offering vocational training programmes.

External quality evaluation in vocational education and training is carried out by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC), as well as other authorised structures. 

Internal quality evaluation is conducted by institutional quality assurance structures, based on national reference and accreditation standards and the institution’s internal regulations (Education Code).

Requirements for appointment

Access to positions involved in monitoring the quality of education within the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC) is subject to the fulfilment of general and specific requirements established through competitive selection procedures for public positions.

Generally, candidates must hold Moldovan citizenship, have full legal capacity, be medically fit for public service, and not have reached the age of 63. Proficiency in Romanian is required, as well as knowledge of official interethnic communication languages, within the limits set by law. Candidates must not have been dismissed from a public position for disciplinary reasons within the past five years and must have no unexpunged criminal record or legal prohibitions on holding public office.

Regarding specific requirements, specialist positions within ANACEC responsible for education quality monitoring require higher education in a pedagogical field. Candidates must hold a teaching or managerial qualification and have relevant professional experience in the education system, including at least one year of teaching and leadership experience.

Additionally, candidates are expected to have knowledge of the structure of the Moldovan education system, relevant general and sectoral legislation, as well as education strategies and policies. Basic digital skills are mandatory for performing professional duties (Source: ANACEC)

Conditions of service

The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC) employs public officials, whose service relationships are regulated by the Law on Public Office and the Status of Public Officials, as well as contractual staff, whose employment is governed by the Labour Code of the Republic of Moldova. Evaluator experts are remunerated from the Agency’s funds in accordance with the legal framework, based on service contracts proportional to the scope of the evaluation performed. The Agency is funded from the state budget and other sources in accordance with the law.

Vacant or temporarily vacant public positions are filled through:

a) competition;

b) promotion;

c) transfer;

d) secondment;

e) interim assignment to senior managerial positions;

f) appointment to an executive public position not requiring prior professional experience in the field, under the conditions established by Law No. 123/2023 on Paid Internships in Public Service;

g) redeployment of individuals from the public officials’ reserve body to a managerial or equivalent/executive public position.

The standard working hours for public officials are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. The head of the public authority may establish, with the written consent or upon written request of the public official, individualised work schedules with flexible working hours, while maintaining the 40-hour weekly workload.

Public officials have the right and obligation to continuously develop their professional skills. The public authority ensures a systematic and planned process of ongoing professional development, including for newly appointed officials, which covers:

a) acquisition, deepening, or updating of knowledge;

b) development of work-related skills and competencies;

c) formation of professional attitudes necessary for the effective exercise of official duties (source: Law on Public Office and the Status of Public Officials).

Salaries for public officials in agencies subordinate to ministries are determined in accordance with legislation on the remuneration of public officials.

Promotion allows career development by moving to a higher public office. Advancement is based on the principles of meritocracy, transparency, and equal opportunity.

Transfers of public officials may occur between different public authorities or within the same authority as a means of changing service relationships. Transfers are carried out in the interest of public service, at the request of the official, or following a “unsatisfactory” rating in a performance evaluation, and are ordered by the head of the authority.

Suspension of service relations entails the temporary cessation of duties and salary payments. Suspension may occur due to circumstances beyond the parties’ control, by mutual agreement, or at the initiative of one of the parties (source: Law on Public Office and the Status of Public Officials).

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