On June 19, 2025, a continuous professional development program for teachers of the Gagauz language in early education institutions across ATU Gagauzia was officially launched in Comrat. The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and the Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun. Over the next three months, 74 educators from 56 preschool institutions in the region will undergo training as part of this program. The Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova supports the initiative by allocating a budget of 290,080 lei, ensuring free access to training and professional support for all participants. The program is being implemented by the Center for Continuing Education in collaboration with the Department of Gagauz Culture and History of Comrat State University, with support from the Ministry of Education and Research. According to Minister Dan Perciun, promoting the Gagauz language is a key priority: “We are focused on developing programs that promote the Gagauz language and are making every effort to implement them. Currently, about 12,000 students in ATU Gagauzia are studying Gagauz, taught by 115 teachers. The state provides them with textbooks every year. Our presence here today demonstrates our commitment to this issue,” the minister stated. The Rector of Comrat State University, Associate Professor, Dr. Serghei Zaharia emphasized the importance of this project for the region:
“Comrat State University is the only higher education institution in ATU Gagauzia, and we have taken on the important mission of training and supporting teachers working with the native language. We strongly believe that preserving and developing the Gagauz language begins in early childhood. These courses are an investment in the future of our people, and the university is fully committed to providing the necessary resources for high-quality and effective training.” The training program consists of two main modules:
- Linguistic module – focused on enhancing communication skills in the Gagauz language and using it properly in kindergartens;
- Psychopedagogical module – focused on modern methods for teaching the native language.
The program also includes a component dedicated to the history and traditions of the Gagauz people. Participants will receive teaching and methodological material kits and will take a final assessment. In recent years, the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova has actively supported the development of the Gagauz language in the education system. In 2024, 9,400 textbooks were published for grades V–IX, totaling more than 3.5 million lei. A significant milestone was the approval of a pilot curriculum for the subject "Gagauz Language and Literary Reading" for grades I–IV, already implemented in grade I, covering 1,351 students. A new course, "History, Traditions, and Culture of the Gagauz People," was also introduced for grades V–IX. Starting from the 2024–2025 academic year, the number of hours allocated to native languages, including Gagauz, has increased to help improve students’ communication skills.
