site.btaErasmus Programme Project Implemented to Attract More Teachers to Profession

111 ECONOMY-TEACHERS-FORUM

Erasmus Programme Project Implemented to
Attract More Teachers to
Profession


Sofia, October 16 (BTA) - Education and Science Minister Krassimir Vulchev said on Tuesday that a project is being implemented with funding from the European Commission under the Erasmus Programme for reforming the education policies and teaching. The project is implemented in Bulgaria and four other EU member states, Vulchev said, speaking at a forum called "Teachers of the Future" held in a Sofia school.

The Minister said a map will be developed that will show the shortage of teachers in the country, along with information about people with teaching qualifications who do not work in the education system and about graduate students in teaching.

Chairperson of the Teachers Trade Union Yanka Takeva said that according to surveys by the trade union, the shortage of teachers will be 10,000 in two years' time, and 39,000 after eight years. In Europe the shortage of teachers is 6 million. In Bulgaria the biggest shortage is of teachers in maths, IT, foreign languages, primary school teachers.

Under the current project, 600 teachers will be trained annually, and obtain teaching qualifications for one year using the so-called fast-track system.

Takeva said that there are 1,460 teachers for pupils with special education needs (SEN) in Bulgaria at the moment, serving 22,670 SEN children. A total of 20,000 university students study teaching. Of them, 75 per cent are expected to earn a teaching degree.

Takeva said that there are also teachers who left the education systems long ago but who want to join it again. Shorter training will be needed for them, about six-seven months, she added. LY/ZH
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