About 600 laptops worth half a million dollars to reach Moldovan schools with support of UNICEF and UK

Chisinau, July 5 /MOLDPRES/- UNICEF and the Government of the United Kingdom (FCDO UK) supported the purchase of 600 laptops worth 500 thousand dollars and distributed them to educational institutions across the country today.

Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun said that today's donation is part of a wider effort by the authorities to modernize educational institutions in the country, in particular by providing them with digital equipment. "We have tried to reach where the most acute need for computing technology is," he said.

The official said that over the last two years, with the support of external partners, over 10 thousand laptops have arrived in the country's schools. This year a large purchase of equipment is planned with the support of the World Bank for 200 educational institutions. Another 70 schools will be equipped with interactive whiteboards and computers.

UNICEF Representative in Moldova Maha Damaj said that the initiative represents a continued commitment of UNICEF to increase educational opportunities for all children in Moldova.

“The batch of laptops arriving in schools today signifies more than just a donation. This step is important to ensure the continued digitization of the educational process. It is even more important for refugee children who remain connected online to their schools in Ukraine, for students from disadvantaged communities, or for children with disabilities or special educational needs who will benefit from a transformative experience,” Maha Damaj said.

The official added that the equipment will help the beneficiary institutions run their work more efficiently and improve communication processes.

Authorities and UNICEF have selected the beneficiary schools based on several criteria, including the level of technical and educational institutions’ material endowment and the presence of refugee children and children with special needs.