Education over exclusion: Roma enrollment grows in Moldova despite persistent bias
The number of Roma students receiving government scholarships in Moldova has doubled compared to last year. Starting this autumn, 110 young people are receiving monthly stipends of €61 (approx. 1,200 MDL) to support their higher education.
Despite this financial progress, representatives of the Roma community warn that systemic discrimination remains a significant hurdle. President Maia Sandu emphasized that inclusion must be treated as a fundamental obligation of human dignity rather than a "problem to be solved."
Romanița Rădița, a 21-year-old law student at the Moldova State University, represents this new wave of scholars. Aspiring to work with human rights organizations, she admits that securing a tuition-free spot required navigating a landscape of limited quotas and social questioning.
"I faced many questions about Roma culture and what our people do, but once we connected, those barriers faded," Rădița said. She credits her mother, a community mediator, for inspiring her to advocate for the rights of others.
The Agency for Interethnic Relations reports that while educational policies are yielding results, the labor market remains hostile. Director Veaceslav Reabcinschi noted that while the community is increasingly eager to participate in decision-making, hiring discrimination remains a collective societal failure.
As of September 2025, over 2,000 Roma students were enrolled across Moldova’s educational spectrum, from primary schools to universities. The Ministry of Education is currently pushing for "Roma Week" initiatives in schools to foster cultural awareness from an early age.
The demographic reality remains complex. While the 2024 Census records the Roma community at 0.4% of the population, experts estimate the actual figure could be as high as 1.5%, citing historical hesitance to declare ethnicity due to stigma.
President Sandu concluded that empowering the Roma community is not just a moral duty, but an opportunity to harness the potential of all citizens for the common good of Moldovan society.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
