Back to school: Refugee children have started a new academic year in Moldovan schools
Participation in non-formal educational activities organized by UNICEF & its partners helped 10-year-old Darya from Ukraine, to integrate into a Moldovan school
Ten-year-old Darya listens carefully to her teacher and takes notes in her new notebook. It is the sixth day of the school year, and she is excited to gain new knowledge and make new friends. "On the first day, I didn't talk to anyone, but then I started to communicate with the girls. Now, I have more than five friends at school," says Darya.
Darya fled the war in Ukraine in the spring of 2022 with her 16-year-old brother and grandparents. For a year and a half, she and her brother have been separated from their parents, who had to remain in Odesa, Ukraine. In their absence, their grandparents strive to ensure that the siblings continue their education in Moldova.
"It is challenging for children to experience this, being separated from their parents and feeling the stress and anxiety of everyone. After arriving in Moldova, I began searching for educational activities where they could communicate with other children, make new friends, and feel part of a team," says Alyona, Darya's grandmother.
Darya’s grandmother managed to register her to participate in all non-formal education activities organized at the Puppet Theater 'Licurici', in Chisinau, as part of a UNICEF project implemented in partnership with Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and their national partner Step by Step Moldova, with the support of Education Cannot Wait.
Thanks to this project, Darya and 91 other children from Ukraine are studying school subjects like Math, Romanian, English, and Science, among many others. Moreover, they participate in creative and recreational activities, which help them develop their imagination and overcome the traumas of war.
"She started to learn Romanian through non-formal education activities and continues to do so in school. As a result, she successfully passed the Romanian language exam. This summer, Darya attended school preparation lessons in the morning and recreational activities in the afternoon," says Alyona. Also, the grandmother explains that "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children studied online for almost two years. Thus, the non-formal education activities organized in Chisinau are invaluable for their development."
For Darya, this is her second school year in a Moldovan school. Last year, she left her online studies in Ukraine to enroll at the 'Dacia' Theoretical High School in Chisinau, where 21 other refugee children also study. Though she was initially registered as a 'listener', now she has officially enrolled in the school. According to the Ministry of Education, all Ukrainian children can be enrolled in Moldovan schools and have access to all educational services, as do Moldovan children. All information about the enrollment process can be found on the official web page of the Ministry of Education.
Darya's grandmother believes in the power of education, especially during crises. "I noticed a beautiful evolution thanks to the UNICEF project and after her integration in school. The teachers have given her a lot of love and support, inspiring her to become a teacher for younger children one day in the future. Now, she visits her first teacher every day. She wants to ensure everything is fine and to help the teacher with the younger students," says Alyona.
Darya truly enjoys the friendship of everyone. During the breaks between lessons, she is surrounded by her classmates to chat and play together. Tatyana, their teacher, mentions that integrating children from Ukraine is not a challenging task but rather an exciting experience. "We have diverse cultures, and children exchange views and share experiences. They quickly find common interests. Darya integrated easily. She is quite active and always positive", says Tatyana.
According to the key findings of the most recent Education Assessment conducted by Refugee Education Working Group between June and September 2023, refugee children in Moldova face challenges with online learning due to poor internet connections, insufficient equipment, and disruptions from sirens. Additionally, teachers from Ukraine and caregivers have observed a reduced capacity among children to engage with online classes. The educators also noted a decline in the children's academic performance, and participation.
In this context, UNICEF Moldova is working with the Ministry of Education to enhance the enrollment of refugee children in Moldovan schools. Furthermore, to facilitate their integration into the community and prevent the loss of education, UNICEF and its partners, with the generous support of donors, such as Education Cannot Wait, focused on non-formal education activities in safe spaces. According to the Ministry of Education data, in September 2023, more than two thousand children were enrolled in Moldovan educational institutions, with more than 600 enrolled in preschools. In addition, UNICEF and its partners managed to reach more than 20 thousand Moldovan and Ukrainian children since the beginning of 2023 through the provision of formal and non-formal education interventions.
Alyona encourages Ukrainian parents to enroll their children in Moldovan schools. “It is crucial for children of Ukraine to participate in various educational activities during these difficult times. While some parents believe online studies are sufficient, they truly are not. The children lack communication with their peers. They must go to school. Interacting with other children is essential for their personal growth and knowledge acquisition," says Alyona.
Despite her new friendships in Moldova and access to quality education, Darya still remembers her Ukrainian school and best friend. She is worried about the fate of children in Ukraine. "If I were to go, I would want to reunite with my best friend. I wish all Ukrainian children have safe bomb shelters. Even if their schools are destroyed, they will be safe," concludes Darya.