Children in educational institutions of the Moldovan SSR in the academic year 1944–1945

The article elucidates the situation of children in educational institutions in the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in the context of the reoccupation of Bessarabia and the restoration of the Soviet-type educational system. Following the analysis of the archive documents, we found that the general schooling of the children was carried out in precarious socio-economic conditions, in the absence of appropriate buildings, furniture and adequate teaching inventory. It also happened in situations of poverty, when a large part of the population did not have enough resources to dress and feed children properly. The unsatisfactory conditions in schools have led to poor results in studies, the spread of diseases and epidemics among children. The situation in the educational institutions of the Moldavian SSR in the academic year 1944–1945 clearly illustrates that schooling had a compulsory character being motivated by the interest of the Soviet authorities to install administrative, political and ideological control over the young generation. After the occupation of Bessarabia, given the continuation of military operations to the countries of Western Europe and the need of restoration following them, resources were insufficient and political and ideological objectives were achieved in circumstances of poverty. The 1944–1945 academic year was a turning point for the young generation in the Moldovan SSR. It began to be subjected to ideological training through ideological study programs and involvement in communist organizations for children and youth. Also, the “convert” of children to the communist ideology, to the detriment of national traditions and values, began.