site.btaBulgarian Consul General in Odesa Describes Bilateral Protocol Between Education Ministries of Bulgaria, Ukraine as Significant Achievement

On January 7, the ministers of education and science of Bulgaria, Galin Tsokov, and of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi, signed a Protocol of Cooperation and Exchange for the academic years 2024/2025, 2025/2026, 2026/2027 and 2027/2028.

In a BTA interview, Bulgarian Consul General in Odesa Svetoslav Ivanov spoke about the significance of the four-year protocol in strengthening bilateral relations between the two friendly countries. He also discussed the preparation of a draft agreement for Bolhrad's G.S. Rakovski High School, cooperation between the Bulgarian consulate in Odesa and Bulgarian NGOs in Ukraine, and support for Bulgarian Sunday schools in the country.

Ivanov highlighted joint initiatives with BTA in Odesa and the surrounding region, where more than 150,000 Bulgarians live.

“The signing of the bilateral protocol for cooperation between the Ministries of Education and Science of Bulgaria and Ukraine for the next four years is a significant achievement, given the ongoing war and martial law entering its third year,” he said.

“One of the main tasks in 2024 was for the Consulate General to revive the initiative for preparing a new four-year protocol for cooperation in education and science since the current protocol was set to expire at the end of 2024. It was originally signed in 2020, at the beginning of my term,” Ivanov explained.

The new document was signed at the beginning of 2025 and is now undergoing formalities to be finalized in Bulgarian and Ukrainian for implementation. The protocol provides a foundation for continuing educational activities and fostering cooperation between universities in Bulgaria and Ukraine, he added.

“In 2024, despite significant challenges, the Consulate General, with the assistance of BTA, organized two important events for the Bulgarian diaspora in the Odesa region. The first event was held on March 3 at the Consulate General and featured an exhibition of Bulgarian artists. The second event took place on October 29, marking the Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians,” Ivanov recalled.

“We demonstrated to the local authorities that the Bulgarian diaspora is vibrant, present, and quite large,” he underscored.

Ivanov noted that the COVID-19 and war crises over the past five years have impacted the educational process. Before the war, Bulgaria had deployed some 15 teachers to areas like Bolhrad, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Berdiansk to teach Bulgarian language, literature, history, and folklore. Unfortunately, they were evacuated at the start of the war, and no Bulgarian teachers are currently stationed in Ukraine, which Ivanov described as a significant setback.

He also emphasized Bulgaria's serious commitment to supporting Bulgarian Sunday schools in Ukraine. “This year, we have 62 Bulgarian Sunday schools, most of which are in the Odesa region. Bulgaria’s community in Ukraine numbers around 250,000, with 150,000 concentrated in Odesa and the surrounding area,” Ivanov highlighted.

“These schools are managed by some 15 Bulgarian public organizations registered in Ukraine as non-profit entities. Through them, Bulgaria finances these Sunday schools. This financial support ensures stability for these organizations and the people working in this challenging field, especially amid the ongoing war,” he explained.

“In the past year, we implemented five projects supporting Bulgarian Sunday schools operating within Ukrainian state schools. These projects funded technology and multimedia labs, an information studio for combating fake news, and more. This investment benefits both Bulgarian and Ukrainian children in these schools and underscores Bulgaria’s tangible support for Ukraine, strengthening bilateral relations,” Ivanov added.

The Bulgarian Consul General in Odesa shared that Bulgaria’s Education and Science Ministry has promised to organize a qualification course for Bulgarian language and literature teachers in 2025. “These teachers, Ukrainian citizens educated in Bulgaria or Ukraine, need additional training to enhance their teaching quality, which directly impacts students’ learning,” Ivanov noted.

“The potential is enormous, it is an investment in children and their future. I am confident this effort will be appreciated in both Ukraine and Bulgaria,” he said.

“Through this cooperation, Bulgaria supports Ukraine in the field of education. Our bilateral relations are now excellent,” Ivanov concluded.