In this article we will analyze the development of the secondary education system in Bessarabia since 1833, when the first secular secondary public school was opened, until 1871, when the Russian Empire carried out a series of reforms, which affected the education system.

Secondary education in Bessarabia was introduced during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I (1826-1856). The Tsar’s education policy was characterized by a number of limitations. The government intended to transform the education system into a tool to maintain and strengthen the regime. To achieve this, the tsarist government undertook some reorganization of the education system. This reorganization was aimed at the organization of schools on the basis of caste principle, raising children in a religious spirit, control over schools by the police and turning them into a means of Russification of non-Russian peoples. Under the new school statute from December 8, 1828 the continuity between parochial and county schools was eliminated, resulting in a two systems of education: primary education system, which included the county and parochial schools, and the system of secondary and higher education, which included gymnasiums and universities.

The lack of systematic education in the region was strongly felt. After four years of preparatory work, on September 12, 1833 a gymnasium for boys was opened in Chisinau. It was established in accordance with the statute of 1828 and had a seven-year course of study. Initially only three primary classes were opened. However, in the short term the Chisinau male gymnasium has become one of the main institutions of secondary education in the Odessa School District.

Changes in the Russian education system affected this school too. The reform of 1864 divided the secondary schools into three categories: classical gymnasiums, “real” gymnasiums and “real” schools. Under these regulations, the Chisinau male gymnasium received the status of a classical school. Under the new regulations, the main subjects here were classical languages and mathematics.

In the same year, on March 8, there was opened the first high school for girls aimed at educating daughters of nobles, officials, merchants and representatives of other wealthy estates. The school had two primary classes and was kept at the expense of taxation of the nobility, churches and monasteries.

During 1833-1871 there were two secondary educational institutions (one for boys and one for girls) for spreading the knowledge among the Bessarabian population.