Talking to a doctor, looking for work or building relationships with people in the local community can be challenging without a shared language. For adult migrants and refugees in the Republic of Moldova, learning Romanian can help make these everyday interactions easier.

The National Curriculum for the Romanian Language for Adult Migrants and Refugees aims to make language learning more accessible and relevant to adults’ everyday needs. Approved by the National Curriculum Council and publicly presented in Chișinău, it covers proficiency levels A1 to B2, in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

For Abdurashid Saidov, a beneficiary of temporary protection originally from Tajikistan, learning Romanian is a step towards communicating more confidently in his new surroundings. Having completed the A1 course, he hopes to continue learning.

“I have been living here in the Republic of Moldova for almost five years, and I decided to learn Romanian. We have already completed the A1 course, and we are hoping to start the A2 programme very soon,” he said.

The Curriculum focuses on real-life communication situations that are relevant to everyday life, from interacting with public institutions to accessing healthcare and integrating into the labour market. It also provides a common methodological framework for developing Romanian language courses and learning materials suited to adults with different educational and professional backgrounds.

“Language teaching is oriented towards real life. That means the focus is first on what people can do with the language, starting from the beginning. In lessons, students meet and practise situations and tasks they face in life outside the classroom,” explained Fernanda Minuz, lead international consultant and coordinator of the Working Group involved in developing the Curriculum.

By placing learners’ needs at the centre, the curriculum reflects a broader commitment to inclusion in the Republic of Moldova. “This Curriculum draws on the Council of Europe’s expertise and European standards in linguistic integration,” said Natalia Voutova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău. “It will support adult migrants and refugees in developing the language skills they need to participate in society, access essential services, education and employment, and exercise their rights, contributing to lasting integration and social cohesion.”

The Curriculum was developed at the request of the Ministry of Education and Research and the General Inspectorate for Migration, in close cooperation with representatives of public institutions, language education professionals and civil society organisations. This collaborative process helped ensure that the Curriculum reflects the national context of the Republic of Moldova and the needs of adult learners.

The next step is to put the Curriculum into practice through Romanian language courses for adult migrants and refugees.

The initiative was organised under the project “Strengthening the human rights protection of refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova: phase II”, funded and implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova (2025–2028).