Free remedial lessons trigger massive academic breakthrough in Moldova
The pass rate for 9th-grade math graduation exams in Moldova has surged from a staggering 3% to 52%. Officials attribute this turnaround to a free remedial program launched by the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC).
The initiative targeted approximately 6,000 students who were identified as high-risk after failing their preliminary mock exams. Following the program's success, authorities announced it will expand next year to include Romanian Language and Literature for schools serving national minority communities.
Ludmila Armaș, a mathematics teacher at "Ion Creangă" High School in Soroca, praised the initiative as a vital lifeline. "Since the start of the year, we have been reviewing the curriculum topic by topic. We added a dedicated extra hour for math, and since October, we have operated two study groups supported by 11th-grade student volunteers," Armaș explained.
For the 9th graders who previously struggled, these sessions have transformed their outlook on the upcoming finals.
"Every Wednesday, we meet for a seventh period specifically to solve exam problems," one student said. "It’s going well so far. We work together and help each other through the difficult parts." Another student added, "We focus strictly on actual exam items and formulas. With this extra help, I feel confident we will pass this year."
Starting with the 2026 session, the Ministry will provide 6,000 students with extra math coaching and 3,000 students with Romanian language support. Each participant will receive 60 hours of in-person instruction in small groups.
"These programs are targeted classroom interventions designed to close learning gaps and give every student a fair chance at passing national exams," said Valentina Olaru, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education.
The initial remedial phase ran from March to May 2025, providing 40 hours of free instruction per student. The total government investment for both programs is estimated at 25.3 million lei (approximately $1.4 million USD).
Translation by Iurie Tataru
