site.btaNumber of Young Teachers Taking Up Teaching Increases Fourfold in Single School Year - Trade Union Leader

Sofia, November 20 (BTA) - Chairperson of the Trade Union of Bulgarian Teachers Yanka Takeva said that in the current school year, a total of 3,500 young teachers took up teaching in schools, against 800 in the past year. Takeva addressed a national conference on the role of mentorship in young teachers' professional development.

The forum, which is organized by the Trade Union of Bulgarian Teachers with the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), brings together teachers and directors of schools in Bulgaria, university lecturers, and heads of regional educational administrations.

Takeva said that a severe shortage of teachers is looming in eight years since 39,000 teachers are expected to retire then. She urged for greater motivational incentives for young teachers finishing university to take up teaching.

Takeva said that teachers' pay has increased and the conditions of work have improved. There are six universities offering degrees in pre-school and primary school pedagogy while all the 52 universities in Bulgaria offer teacher training.

Takeva argued that the universities should train young teachers for working in a multicultural environment and for teaching civic studies. Also, the university pedagogy syllabi should include more generational psychology subjects because insufficient knowledge about children's growth creates communication problems, Takeva said.