Students across the country boldly start today the new school year, while the little ones start the first trip through the world of knowledge. With emotions and flowers, children will participate in the solemn ceremony at the first sound of the bell shall ring.

The first lesson of the 2016-2017 school year will be themed "Moldova - a quarter of a century."

This year, about 340,000 students will step over the threshold of 1,300 primary schools, gymnasiums and high schools across the country.

About 33,000 children will go in the first class, with 2,000 fewer children compared to last year.