site.btaMinisters of Labour, Education Discuss Pupil Retention Measures

Sofia, July 5 (BTA) - Labour Minister Bisser Petkov and Education Ministers Krassimir Vulchev on Wednesday took part in a working meeting with the chiefs of the regional offices of the Agency for Social Assistance.

In the focus were the aims and actions to implement a mechanism for coordinated effort by the institutions aimed to keep children in school, which was endorsed by the government on Tuesday. Interdepartmental teams will work to implement the mechanism which will include a worker from the local office of the Agency for Social Assistance.

Education Minister Vulchev expressed a hope that the first results will be visible as early as in the autumn. Rules will be put in place for the exchange of information between institutions about children and pupils who are excluded from the school system or are at a risk of dropping out.

The first step will be to provide access to the national information system of the Education Ministry and later to integrate the systems of all involved institutions, said Vulchev. He explained that the implementation of the mechanism will involve changes to the procedures for extending family and other benefits in kind based on the individual needs of children and pupils and will impose tougher sanctions for parents whose children don't go to school.