Five schools and one student dormitory have been renovated and modernized in Pazardzhik with BGN 8.2 million under the Regions in Growth 2014-2020 Operational Programme, said Regional Information Centre Manager Radoslav Peshalov here on Friday. He was among the participants at a local conference within BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.
The three pillars that the EU finances in the field of education, according to him, are infrastructure, the creation of a STEM environment and further qualification of those involved in the education system. He pointed out that various STEM laboratories have been created in schools with the support of EU funds and that currently Pazardzhik Municipality is implementing a project for the repair and rehabilitation of a high school dormitory under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan worth BGN 3.5 million.
Peshalov stated that 112 contracts are being implemented in 109 schools in Pazardzhik Region worth BGN 40.2 million currently. By 2026, 3D printers, robotics, software programming, virtual realities and many other innovations will be introduced, he pointed out, adding that a good example of a STEM classroom is one that combines classical disciplines such as physics and chemistry with robotics and digital technologies.
Through the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project, BTA aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. Until September 2025, BTA will host discussions at its press clubs in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
/MR/
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