A number of employees of the National Bureau of Statistics are improving their professional skills by studying the English language

For three months, 60 employees of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have been studying and have improved their knowledge of English due to the support of the "Technical Assistance to Support the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova" project, funded by the European Union. NBS employees benefited from free English language courses, which were held online twice a week. In mid-May, the NBS representatives successfully passed the mid-course evaluation. As of June 1, they will resume the classes for a few more months, so that they will be able to complete a full level course.

 According to the employees of the NBS, the knowledge and language skills obtained during the English language course will be extremely useful in their professional activity. Elena Cojocaru, senior consultant in the Agriculture and Environment Division, had previously studied English, but claims that these lessons help her maintain her language skills and strengthen her grammar knowledge. "I need to use English when I disseminate NBS statistics on international websites, as well, when we have to provide presentations abroad, and this course definitely helps me to learn the correct structure of the phrase and idioms, thus enriching my vocabulary", said Elena Cojocaru.

Nadejda Cojocari, head of the Social Services Statistics Division sustains that attending the English courses brings a lot of professional and personal benefits. ”As a civil servant it is essential to know an international foreign language which allows representing the institution at the highest level among the international ones, as well allowing to enjoy an efficient communication with the experts and offering access to important methodological resources in the activity area”. The civil servant mentioned as well that a good proficiency in English can offer a number of opportunities and access to broad self development resources, allowing in the same time to explore different cultures.

A more advanced knowledge of English will allow NBS staff to access statistical data and documents from Eurostat and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, which are the main reference sources  to increase acquis communautaire of official statistics in Republic of Moldova.