Developing a national policy on information and media literacy: the next necessary step for the Republic of Moldova
The interministerial plan on Information and Media Literacy, approved in May 2024 and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Research together with the Ministry of Culture, is an important step in strengthening efforts to promote media education in the Republic of Moldova. However, developing a national policy in this area must remain a priority. These opinions were expressed during the first session of the third edition of the Media Literacy Forum, organized on October 24 by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), a session dedicated to discussing the need for a national policy in the field of Information and Media Literacy.
Valentina Olaru, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Research, stressed that the most recent elections, both in Romania and in the Republic of Moldova, have demonstrated how essential critical thinking and information and media literacy skills are. According to her, the lack of these skills can have a decisive influence on the fate of a nation, which is why state institutions should join forces in a single direction.
“The interministerial plan between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Research is a start, a consolidation of efforts in the field of Information and Media Literacy (…) The creation of a national policy is essential for our actions, both in the formal and informal environments, to be united and coherent. Only through a joint effort will we be able to transform these skills into a societal culture,” said Valentina Olaru.
In this context, Diana Silivestru, head of the Arts, Creative Industries, and Artistic Education Department at the Ministry of Culture, emphasized that in a context of hybrid warfare, where information manipulation, disinformation, and propaganda are strategic weapons, the state must strengthen institutions and consolidate information resilience. She noted that the Ministry of Culture has made significant progress, including by involving librarians in promoting media education. Meanwhile, in September, the Strategy for Culture and Heritage 2025–2035 was approved.
“In this document, we have included a general objective and a priority dedicated to Media and Information Literacy. We are currently developing the implementation program for the 2025–2030 strategy, which will contain concrete actions in this area. The concept of the program has already been submitted to the State Chancellery and is awaiting validation,” said Diana Silivestru.
Researcher Angela Vacaru, who contributed to the development of the interministerial plan, noted that, in addition to the two ministries involved, there are many other public institutions and organizations that can contribute to strengthening critical thinking among citizens. However, it is essential to clearly establish who coordinates this process.
“In countries where a national strategy has worked, several state institutions are involved and there is solid cross-sectoral collaboration. This is the aspect we need to improve—communication and cooperation between ministries, institutions, and civil society. Expertise in this field already exists, especially within civil society organizations, and it would be important for this to be harnessed and transferred to state structures,” Angela Vacaru emphasized.
The interministerial plan was developed by the IJC with the aim of taking a first step towards a public policy in the field of Information and Media Literacy. Through a joint order, the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture have assumed the role of institutions responsible for implementing the actions and activities included in the plan.
The third Media Education Forum brought together around 100 participants: teachers, librarians, local and foreign experts, authorities, representatives of partner organizations, etc. The event, organized by the IJC every two years, facilitates the exchange of opinions and ideas, providing an opportunity to analyze trends and perspectives in the field.
The third edition of the Media Education Forum was organized by the Independent Journalism Center as part of the projects “Media Literacy Advancement and Support to Moldovan Media,” supported by Sweden and implemented by Internews, “Advancing Information and Media Literacy – Phase II,” implemented by International Media Support (IMS) with financial support from the Danish Government, and “Strengthening Media Education Skills in the Republic of Moldova: Piloting an Integrated Approach in Formal Education,” implemented in partnership with Deutsche Welle Akademie and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
