Media and information literacy is one of the priorities of the IJC. Since 2014, we have made consistent efforts to develop critical thinking in students, providing them with the necessary tools to distinguish accurate news from fake news and genuine information from misinformation.
We initially pursued this goal via media literacy lessons but have now succeeded in including Media Education as an optional subject in the national school curriculum. Thus in 2017, with the consent of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, the IJC launched the Media Education optional course in the 3rd and 4th grades. That same year, the first teachers were trained and the first lot of Media Education textbooks was published. In 2018, the course was taught in the 7th and 8th grades, and since September 2019 has been taught at all three levels of education: primary, gymnasium, and lyceum. In addition, textbooks and curricula have been translated into Russian, and more and more teachers from Russian-speaking schools have taken part in the training sessions organized by the IJC.
Media Education aims to develop students’ analytical and critical thinking skills with regard to information transmitted by the media and to increase their ability to distinguish trustworthy information from manipulative text, to make decisions, and to act reasonably.
In 2016, the IJC launched the Mediacritica portal, a unique online resource aimed at countering propaganda and manipulation in the press and developing media consumers’ critical awareness in the Republic of Moldova. It is thematically updated with a wide range of material via both digital tutorials and video explanations and has become a reference resource in countering media manipulation and promoting critical thinking. In 2018, the Media Education platform was launched: It is an integral part of the Mediacritica portal intended especially for pupils, parents, and teachers. This is where Internet users can access trustworthy resources, Media Education electronic textbooks, games, and quizzes on media literacy.
For the future, we suggest “equipping” media consumers with the necessary tools to help them realize the risks of misinformation and propaganda. We will continue implementing various initiatives to contribute to making the public more informed, conscious, and responsible.
