site.btaEducation Minister Vulchev Vows to End Time of Low Requirements in University Teaching

September 28 (BTA) - Education and Science Minister Krassimir Vulchev told reporters here on Monday that the time ended of lower requirements in universities and the key factor in them will be quality of education, instead of high number of enrolments. The Minister said that establishments of higher education should make their bachelor's programmes multidisciplinary because the occupations of the future will demand a broader set of skills.

Vulchev said that professors should make students study all year round, instead of just during the exam session or from one exam to the next. Also, supervision is to be performed all year round and students should be assigned projects every week.

The Minister said that the amendments to the Higher Education Act are a fact, and each university has strategic goals and tasks on whose implementation the remuneration to rectors will depend, "instead of based on the rectors' assessment of a fair pay". It is the responsibility of rectors what and how is being taught, the cooperation with other universities, what investments are made in young teachers, and what research is carried out. He urged for attracting more young university professors. In Vulchev's words, many of the universities keep loss-making bachelors' programmes, or such with subjects that are an end in themselves, and low teaching loads, which he said must change.

Turning to the system of secondary education, Vulchev spoke about the problem of school drop-outs.

He also dwelled on the coronavirus situation in schools, saying that a total shift to on-line schooling is not expected. At the moment, four, out of 1,000 classes, carry out on-line schooling. The Minister once again stressed that when seasonal flu arrives in the winter, the usual no-school flu days will be replaced by on-line schooling. Vulchev said that at the moment, no increase is observed in coronavirus incidence that can be attributed to the opening of schools.

In Varna Vulchev opened the renovated building of the Commerce School. The project for the renovation started in 2019 and cost nearly 1.2 million leva. NV/ZH
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