site.btaEmployee Turnover among Young Teachers at 75% - Pokrepa Confederation of Labour

The percentage of young teachers leaving the system is still high, the turnover is 75%, Dr. Yulian Petrov, chairman of the Education Trade Union of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour, told BTA on Tuesday. He took part in a round table discussion, held in Vratsa, Northwestern Bulgaria. According to Petrov, there are many reasons for this high turnover rate, among them are the treatment they receive from colleagues, society and students, and the low pay. In his words, the job is far from attractive and even after the increases young teachers start with a net salary that does not exceed BGN 2,000.

"It is a problem that universities produce teachers without experience, there is little practice. And then if there is no mentor to advise them on what to do, things don't work out well. Young teachers often lose motivation and decide to leave," Petrov said.

"The two indicators of a declining rating of a profession are the lack of male teachers and a high average age, both of which are characteristic of the teaching profession," Petrov said. He quoted statistics showing that only 4% of teachers are under the age of 30, 15% are under the age of 34 and young male teachers under the age of 35 make up only 14% of all young teachers. At the same time, teachers and principals of retirement age in the education system are over 10%. Overall, the average age of teachers in Bulgaria is around 50-55 years and this is about 6 to 10 years older than the European average.

Education and discipline of students is also a problem. "We have recognized the problem as important, but we have not done much in that direction. Society has to be ready to accept that the teacher also educates, and to educate you have to impose order, you have to follow rules uncompromisingly," Petrov said.