Deputies of the Committee on Education discussed a report on the situation of children in the PMR in 2023

A report on the situation of children in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in 2023 was discussed by deputies in the course of the first meeting of the Committee on Education, Public Associations and Mass Media in the autumn session. It was presented by Deputy Minister of Education Natalia Soldatova.

The average number of children aged up to 18 last year was 81821 according to the data provided in the report. This is 1325 people less than in 2022. The birth rate decreased by 8.2%: 2588 children were born in 2023, and 2820 in 2022. The highest birth rate is in Tiraspol, lower in Dnestrovsk, Slobodzeya, Grigoriopol and Kamenka districts.

There were 155 kindergartens and 158 schools in the republic in 2023, including 37 school-kindergarten complexes. The vocational education system in Pridnestrovie is represented by 20 organizations. As Natalia Soldatova noted, the problem of the need to update educational funds in schools and improve the material and educational base of educational organizations remains in Pridnestrovie.

2742 orphans and children left without parental care are under the protection of the state in Pridnestrovie as of January 1, 2024. Of these, 771 children are under guardianship, 15 children are brought up in a family-type kindergarten, 1476 children are provided for in state and municipal institutions. Another 480 pupils and students from the category of orphans study full-time in vocational education organizations and are fully supported by the state. According to data as of the beginning of the year, 1179 people are registered to receive comfortable housing. 48 residential premises were purchased for orphans within the framework of the "Provision of residential premises (apartments) or residential buildings to orphans, children left without parental care, persons from among orphans and children left without parental care, for the period 2018-2027" state target program in 2023. Almost 11 million rubles were allocated from the republican budget for these purposes. Another two people received housing at the expense of the local budget. One of the main problems in the republic remains the shortage of teachers. Deputy Minister of Education of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Natalya Soldatova noted that today there are about 300 vacancies in the republic. At the same time, the problem remains when teachers with non-core education teach in schools.

Chairman of the Committee on Education, Public Associations and Mass Media Igor Buga drew attention to the shortage of medical personnel in schools. The head of the relevant ministry Kristina Albul noted that there is a shortage of doctors in the entire healthcare sector. The republic lacks approximately 300-350 specialists with higher professional medical education at present.

The deputies discussed the high incidence rates among children and adolescents. For example, the overall incidence rate of children under 14 has increased by 18.9% compared to 2022. The Minister of Healthcare of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Kristina Albul explained that for several years now, respiratory diseases have been in first place, infectious diseases in second place, and digestive diseases in third place.

Parliamentarian Oleg Vasilaty was interested in how kindergartens in the republic functioned during the summer. The deputy noted that temperature records were broken last summer, and according to weather forecasters, similar temperature conditions will await us in the future. At the same time, it is prohibited according to the sanitary rules and regulations in force in Pridnestrovie to install air conditioners in kindergartens. The head of the Ministry of Healthcare noted that this problem is under control and it is planned to study the experience of other countries with a hot climate in organizing the work of kindergartens in such conditions.

A report on the situation of children in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in 2023 will be included in the agenda of the plenary session, which will be held next week. Parliamentarians plan to discuss with the deputy corps and official representatives during the session all the issues voiced at today's meeting of the Committee.