site.btaOver One-third of Private Schools in Bulgaria Are Innovative - Education Minister

More than one-third of private schools in Bulgaria - 39 in total - are innovative, caretaker Education and Science Minister Galin Tsokov said here on Monday. He was speaking at the opening of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Bulgarian Association of Private Schools, the Ministry reported.

This school year, there are 229 active private educational establishments in Bulgaria, of which 104 schools and 125 kindergartens. "These structures have freedom and opportunity to implement innovations. That is one of the main reason why they should be part of the change in the education system, which is happening gradually and with very serious accumulations," he noted.

In his words, education as a sector develops when there is internal competition. Contemporary education systems are linked to the use of AI, technologies, and challenges concerning students' personal development and technological preparedness.

Private education is an alternative that gives a particular school culture. The implemented innovations give more opportunities for creativity in the education process, the Minister added.

According to Bulgarian Association of Private Schools head Maria Kamenova, good partnership is extremely valuable for the development of the whole education system.

Deputy Education and Science Minister Nataliya Miteva took an active part in the moderated discussion after the forum's opening. Attending the event were also rectors of private universities, heads or regional education offices in the country, representatives of Sofia Municipaliy and the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, private educational institutions, experts and students.