The social inclusion of all categories of persons, including those with disabilities, in higher education institutions represents a strategic objective of the Ministry of Education. In a roundtable meeting themed “Equitable access to studies of a high quality”, Deputy Minister of Education Loretta Handrabura said that besides ensuring appropriate educational infrastructure, the Ministry makes effort to improve the education programs so that everyone feels that they are special someway.

The next year, the Ministry will maintain the quota of 15% of budget-funded university places for students with disabilities. The university campuses will be modernized.

The head of the Labor Ministry’s Social Protection of Disabled Persons Division Vasile Cusca said that in 2010 Moldova ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and then adopted legislation on social inclusion. As a result, the provided social services were diversified. Simultaneously, the number of working disabled persons and of those who chose to continue their studies to universities increased.

Consultant of the Ministry of Youth’s Youth Programs Division Constantin Turcan said the Ministry is implementing a program of grants to support the initiatives of the youth, including young people with special needs

Irina Dune, a young woman with visual impairments who graduated from the State University of Moldova, said that though certain measures were taken to improve the leaning conditions for the students with special needs, not enough was done. The young people suffering from the same problems as she need more light in the lecture rooms. The steps must be painted bright, while the door handles must be black. The teaching aids must be also adjusted to their needs.

According to the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection ands Family, in Moldova there are almost 15,00 persons with disabilities, almost 400 of whom study at universities.