site.btaPM Borissov: Education is Government's Topmost Priority

Sofia, July 4 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Tuesday said that education was a top priority for the government. He was speaking during the presentation of a multi-institutional mechanism for educational inclusion at the Council of Ministers.

Borissov recalled that the government has allocated 330 million leva to increase teachers' salaries. "Each child in Bulgaria should go to school and leave educated. Only education will ensure the prosperity of the economy and the state. We want all institutions to commit to the idea. Only this will guarantee a higher labour productivity," said Borissov.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said that the state should commit all of its resources to resolve this problem. He cited data according to which over 20 per cent of Bulgarian children, 25 per cent of Roma children and 10 per cent of Turkish children in Bulgaria do not go to school. They are unqualified for the labour market, learn to rely on benefits, and some turn to crime. Donchev urged the state to mobilize all of its resources because the problems were complex.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that for the sake of public interest children should be kept in school through sanctions, motivation and incentives. "If this happens, children will have a different future," said Donchev.