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The difficult situation and conditions of the eight schools from the Transnistrian region that teach in Romanian were discussed at a roundtable organized by the Promo-LEX Association on Thursday, December 13, 2018, attended by the heads of the institutions.

On October 19, 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found that Russia had violated the right to education of students of Romanian schools situated in the Transnistrian region. The ECtHR then compelled Russia to respect the right to education of students of Romanian schools in the Transnistrian region and pay a compensation in the amount of 1 million 70 thousand euros. However, so far, Russia avoids complying with the judgment of the European Court. Promo-LEX reiterated that in the case of Catan and others, the ECtHR found that the Republic of Moldova did not violate the right to education in the Transnistrian region, but it is responsible for the education of students on the left bank of the Dniester River.

Despite the decision of the ECtHR and the latest agreements signed between the authorities in Chisinau and Tiraspol, the problems of those 8 Romanian schools in the Transnistrian region have not been solved yet. “One cannot say that the problem of schools has been solved. Since 1994, Alexandru cel Bun Theoretical Lyceum is in this state … all the three buildings, we all the time travel by buses. That’s permanent danger. The child makes a round trip of 27 kilometers. The school has no possibility to offer hot meals to the 6th-8th graders. 6^th-8th graders cannot go out during the breaks because the corridor is only 1 meter and 20 centimeters wide. There is a risk that our students will subsequently be enrolled in the so-called Transnistrian army, as they receive call-up papers, being invited to register with the military headquarters in Bender,” says Maria Roibu, headmistress of Alexandru cel Bun Theoretical Lyceum from Tighina.

Similar issues have been exposed by other headmasters.

It should be mentioned that none of the 8 schools that teach in Romanian language do not have their own premises, they are renting them. The greatest pressure is felt on September 1 and May 31, when students and teachers are monitored by civilians or men in uniforms, being openly intimidated to attend their solemn events. The educational institutions do not have the right to play the anthem of the Republic of Moldova or to fly the tricolor. School managers also talked about discrimination, stress and the fear experienced by students and teachers of the educational institutions from the Transnistrian region that teach in Romanian language.

For more information, please contact: Natalia Munteanu, Promo-LEX Communications Officer; GSM: 069 43 70 40
E-mail: [email protected]