Poland will support the establishment of the Model Schools Network in the Republic of Moldova and thus contribute to ensuring access to quality education for hundreds of children. One of the 35 institutions that are part of the network will be fully refurbished and equipped with up-to-date equipment by UNDP, with the financial support of Poland. The total investment amounts to US$1,083,424. A financing agreement was signed on 11 July 2024 in Chișinău by Jakub Wisniewski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova. 

“Support to education sector is a priority area for Polish development cooperation with Moldova and I am pleased Poland will work with UNDP in Moldova to improve quality of education through Model Schools Network. UNDP has been a longstanding partner in reaching development objectives in priority countries of Polish development assistance. I am convinced that our cooperation also in Moldova will contribute to strengthening education and skills and thus supporting Moldova on its European integration path,” stated Jakub Wisniewski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland.

“I am delighted establishing this new partnership with Poland that contributes to advance the Ministry’s of Education and Research ‘Model Schools Network’ reform initiative. With this Polish contribution, we will be able to empower yet one more model school and its pupils, teachers, parents, community and create a modern and inclusive learning environment. Looking forward, we aim to create more partnerships, including with the private sector, so that all children from Moldova enjoy quality education,” said Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.

Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research, attending the signing ceremony, said: "The Model Schools Network is a national project, which aims to ensure access to quality education for every child and youth in the Republic of Moldova. We have selected 35 schools in which we are going to invest heavily over the next 2-3 years, so that these institutions become attractive poles for students. First of all, we are talking about a change in the school, in the way of teaching, in the way processes are structured, about the well-being of children, about inclusion, about investments in infrastructure, facilities, equipment, digital laboratories."

The school to receive upgrades from UNDP and Poland will be selected from the list proposed by the Ministry of Education and Research. The school will be refurbished and repaired and will be transformed into a modern and attractive institution for students and teachers, including those with disabilities. ICT equipment and other state-of-the-art educational technologies will be installed in the classrooms, including those that would ease the educational integration of students with special educational needs. The science laboratories – for biology, physics, and chemistry disciplines - will also become more attractive for students and will be refurbished and equipped with all the necessary equipment for more interactive lessons. 

The way the school library is structured will also be changed to become a modern and multifunctional learning space where students will have the possibility to socialize, work on individual and group projects. The school's book collection will be enriched to offer interesting options for every age group. Another area of the school will include tools, materials, and equipment for activities such as 3D printing, arts and crafts and STEEAM (science, technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, arts, and maths) projects. The so-called chill-out zone will feature a range of materials to promote leisure reading and provide spaces for students and teachers to relax. 

The opinion of children, parents and teachers will be taken into consideration when developing the future room design. To that end, UNDP will hold a participatory exercise where everyone will have the opportunity to express their views on what their school should look like in the future. 

The Model Schools Network is a project of the Ministry of Education and Research. The authorities have chosen 35 schools, which will be turned into models in terms of both infrastructure and teaching methods. The initiative is supported by the World Bank, the European Union, UNDP, UNICEF. and other international organizations. The project is also supported by several private companies that have joined the initiative and will invest around 17 million MDL in the Model Schools Network.