Resolution: Media Education Forum calls on authorities to strengthen efforts to promote media and information literacy at the national level

Participants in the third edition of the Media Education Forum, held by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) on October 24, adopted a resolution at the end of the event urging authorities to continue joint efforts to develop information and media literacy skills among citizens.

Through this document, participating teachers and librarians call on the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Culture, and other public institutions to maintain an active dialogue with civil society, experts, media institutions, and academia to develop sustainable public policies that support the implementation of information and media literacy at the national level.

The adopted resolution reiterates the essential role of media education in developing critical thinking, responsibility, and information resilience among younger generations. The participants emphasize the importance of inter-institutional coordination and implementation of the Interministerial Plan on Information and Media Literacy, approved in 2024, to ensure a coherent and sustainable approach to media education.

At the same time, the Forum calls on the Ministry of Education and Research to encourage the active participation of teachers and managers in training programs, workshops, and activities dedicated to media education, carried out by the IJC and other relevant actors.

The participants also call for the continued free distribution of Media Education textbooks and teaching materials, as well as the development of new educational resources adapted to the ever-changing digital realities. The resolution also proposes extending the integration of media and information skills into other school subjects, including through inter- and transdisciplinary approaches.

The adopted document was sent to the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture.

The third edition of the Media Education Forum brought together about 100 participants – teachers, librarians, local and international experts, representatives of authorities, and partner organizations. The event, organized by the IJC every two years, facilitates the exchange of ideas and best practices, providing a platform for dialogue on trends, challenges, and prospects in the field of media education in the Republic of Moldova.

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).