Romania’s Government, in office since January 2017, will open 380 new kindergartens by the end of 2019 under a programme financed by the Council of Europe, education minister Ecaterina Andronescu stated, according to local Mediafax.

She thus answered a question from the Opposition regarding the promise made by the senior ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) during the electoral campaign and later in 2017-2018 to develop 2,500 new kindergartens.

The construction works have been completed for 185 of the 380 new kindergartens, minister Andronescu added -- while her breakdown indicates that the correct number is rather 85 and they are not fully completed. Out of the 185, 40 were built during 2017 and only eight in 2018 while the work is in progress for another 37, she admitted.

The Council of Europe’s Development Bank (CEB) is financing the kindergarten programme in Romania with a EUR 80.75 million loan, she explained. The financing envisages the construction and new buildings and the acquisition of equipment for 380 new kindergartens with two, three or four classes. The programme should be completed by December 2019.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Pixabay.com)