Moldova high schools adopt new general profile to boost student choices
A new "general profile" has been introduced in several high schools across Moldova at the start of the academic year.
The new course offers an alternative for students who previously had to choose between humanities and science-based subjects. The curriculum allows students to study a mix of subjects, giving them more flexibility for their Baccalaureate exam and improving their chances of university admission, school principals say. While some schools have adopted the new profile, others are taking a 'wait-and-see' approach, closely monitoring the results of the first year.
"Grigore Vieru" High School in Băcioi is among the first to adopt the general profile. The school's head teacher, Natalia Eftodi, says that due to low student numbers, they were unable to form separate classes for humanities and science-based subjects. Therefore, the administration proposed creating a single class with the general profile, and the students agreed.
"'For financial and logistical reasons, we were unable to form two classes,' she said. 'Even so, students who wanted a science-based course transferred to other schools, while those who stayed are now benefiting from the general profile, which gives them the opportunity to learn subjects from both areas.'"
The general profile has a mixed curriculum, with students taking subjects from both humanities and science-based fields, with an increased number of hours for subjects like maths, biology, chemistry, physics, and foreign languages.
"'We are giving them time to adapt and encouraging them to decide which stream they want to follow for their Baccalaureate in three years,' Eftodi said. 'Until then, they will take their semester exams twice a year, and for these exams, they will select subjects based on the profile they choose.'"
Not all schools have decided to implement the new profile in its first year. At "Mihai Eminescu" Theoretical High School in Sipoteni, Călărași district, the head teacher, Dumitru Bob, decided to keep only the humanities stream. He believes, however, that the general profile would be a good solution for small rural schools, as it would give students the opportunity to study both liberal arts and exact sciences.
"'We discussed it and concluded that maybe we'll implement it in a year,' Bob told Radio Moldova. 'As long as universities in the country don't place so much emphasis on the high school profile, I suspect that's due to the lack of students. They realise there are few students on the science-based course, so they'll take them all.'"
For the 2025-2026 academic year, more than 12,500 students were enrolled in high schools in the Republic of Moldova. The general profile curriculum includes Romanian Language and Literature, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, History, Geography, Citizenship, and Physical Education. World Literature has been removed from this profile.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
