site.btaEurostat: Over 2 Mln Bulgarians Acquired New Knowledge and Skills through Self-Education

Sofia, March 7 (BTA) - Just over 2 million Bulgarians, or 51 per cent of the population between 25 and 64 years of age, acquired new knowledge and skills through self-education in 2016, according to new Eurostat figures. 28 per cent of the total population of this country are willing to improve their qualification through self-education or self-training.

Computer-based learning was the most popular method of self-education among Bulgarians: some 70 per cent used the world-wide web to improve their work-related competence.

Again, 70 per cent say that they are already using their new knowledge and skills at work.

The largest share of self-educating Bulgarians was among university degree holders (35 per cent). Next came high-school graduates (some 20 per cent). A mere 7 per cent of people with primary education used some form of self-training.

The survey found that around 11.5 per cent of Bulgarians aged 25 to 64 had a need or were willing to self-train but did nothing about it for lack of time.

In 2016, close to a third of the employed persons in the EU enrolled in work-related courses. Such training included both informal work-related education and formal training aimed to improve the knowledge, skills and competences of the workers.