For the first time, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Moldova has officially recognized the existence of LGBT+ children in schools. Despite this recognition, the National School Barometer shows that LGBT+ students remain the most discriminated group within the education system.
According to the survey, 21% of LGBT+ students report that their rights are either not respected or are respected only to a limited extent. Around six out of ten students and parents would not accept any form of interaction with LGBT+ children. Additionally, one in five students has witnessed discrimination against LGBT+ classmates, while nearly half of respondents were unable to assess whether the rights of LGBT+ children are respected, highlighting widespread invisibility and a lack of awareness.
In response to these findings, authorities plan to implement measures aimed at fostering safer and more inclusive schools. These include requiring schools to adopt anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies, providing accessible reporting mechanisms for all children, and developing inclusive education guidelines that cover children with disabilities, Roma children, and LGBT+ students.
