Education For All

The EFA process in Moldova started in 2001 in follow up to the International Conference in Dakar, where all countries were called upon to prepare or strengthen their national education development plans by incorporating the EFA goals and strategies. In December 2001, the Government of Moldova convened a National Conference on Education for All in order to sensitise public opinion to EFA issues, discuss current educational problems and set up a National EFA Forum.

Following the National Conference, the preparation of the EFA National Strategy and National Action Plan started with support from a project jointly funded by UNESCO, UNICEF and UNDP. The work carried out by the project allowed the Government of Moldova and the UN family to study, identify and prioritise Moldova's education needs; to better define target areas for their development policies in regard to EFA, as well as to better communicate the country's needs to donors, international and regional organizations and NGOs when seeking technical and financial assistance.

Significant progress has been achieved since the project's launch in March 2002. The EFA National Strategy was approved officially on April 4 th , 2003. Almost all the priorities and objectives established at the national level in regard to EFA have been reflected in the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper currently approved by the Government.

In order to enhance the quality of policymaking and management in the education sector, a series of capacity-building events were organized for representatives of the Government at both central and local levels.

Based on the Strategy and the background papers prepared by the national team, a result-based EFA National Action Plan aligned with the national macro-economic framework and sector development policies and strategies was developed and approved by the Government on May 5 th , 2004. The implementation of this plan is considered essential to ensuring a stable operation of the education system and enhancing its role in the economic and human development of the country. Its approval is an eloquent proof of Moldova's firm commitment to meeting the Dakar objectives and the Millennium Development Goals.

The joint work started by the EFA Project was taken over by the recently created UN Theme Group on Education for All, who will further provide guidance and assistance to the Government in the National Action Plan implementation.