Democratic school governance, an approach that ensures the genuine participation of the entire school community – administrators, teachers, students and parents – in school life, was discussed during the highly popular television programme Bună seara cu Mircea Surdu.

Set in the context of the Republic of Moldova’s efforts towards a values-based education system aligned with the country’s EU integration process, the discussion highlighted the progress achieved by Moldovan schools with the support of the Council of Europe over the past two years, as well as the challenges that continue to slow the democratisation of school culture.

In 2023, the Ministry of Education and Research launched the methodological guide Democratic School Governance, a landmark document designed to democratise the ways in which school communities engage in decision-making. Since then, 41 schools have received mentoring, training and direct support from the Centre for Information and Documentation on Children’s Rights (CIDDC), with assistance from the Council of Europe and Switzerland, an effort that has produced tangible results.

Together with pupils and teaching staff, the Council of Europe has helped develop practical procedures and tools that facilitate democratic processes in schools – from structured pupil consultations to transparent decision-making mechanisms. “These tools are already being used in schools and are contributing to a shift in organisational culture,” noted Olesea Cotiujanu, Programme Coordinator at CIDDC.

Corina Lungu, Head of the General Education Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Education and Research, underlined the visible changes taking place: “Schools increasingly become spaces where the views of pupils and parents are genuinely heard. We are seeing more open institutions, where decisions are taken jointly and rooted in human-rights values”.

The guests on the TV programme – students, teachers, ministry representatives and members of civil society – confirmed that pupil involvement in school decision-making is on the rise, and that many institutions are beginning to adopt participatory practices that have a direct impact on the school climate.

However, the conversation also revealed lingering challenges. For some schools, the transition to democratic governance remains difficult, hindered either by resistance to change or limited resources. Participants stressed the continued need for support to ensure that the transformation is sustainable, and that the Ministry’s methodological guidance is fully implemented across all institutions.