Financing the digitization of education in the Republic of Moldova: the Education 2030 Strategy and the opportunities of blockchain technology

Abstract

The financial support for implementing technology and innovating the education process is becoming increasingly relevant and changing its content. New, complex financing mechanisms are emerging. In the context of the growing costs of education activities, when state budgets are cut, a mix of emerging financing methods in the field under consideration acquire a key role. Currently, there are several obstacles to the digitization of education: the agglomeration of the education sector with fragmented ICT solutions, a fact that prevents the implementation of unitary digital supports intended for computer-assisted training and, informational educational management; the inefficient learning and educational management and the lousy use of material and financial resources intended for the digitization of the education sector; the low capacity of the education sector to return to normality after a possible pandemic or other crises; the slow expansion of lifelong learning, especially in the development of distance learning. In this paper, we aim to evaluate the financing digitization of education in the Republic of Moldova, from the perspective of past actions, the plans included in the Education 2030 Strategy, and the opportunities offered by the blockchain. We used online research, literature review, and interviews with implementers and experts in education and education technology. We concluded that the digitalization of education in the Republic of Moldova is possible with significant financial investments not only from the state, but also from other stakeholders, which predetermines the development of new approaches and tools included in the financial mechanism of the education system. CZU: 37.014.543:004.77”2030”(478); JEL: I22, I25, O33;DOI: https://doi.org/10.53486/dri2022.14