site.btaEducation Ministry Works on Legislative Changes to Enhance Math Education

Legislative changes are being prepared by the Ministry of Education to enhance math education by transforming mathematics high schools into specialized schools. That transpired from remarks by Education Minister Krasimir Valchev in Vratsa (Northwest Bulgaria) Tuesday during the opening of a STEM center. After the change, the admission of students to mathematics high schools should happen after 4th grade - not after 7th grade as is the current practice. After 7th grade these students will stay in the same school without having to take an admission exam again, the Minister said.

The change will affect 31 mathematics high schools in the country.

According to the Minister, in the future, various jobs will require more complex skills, and present-day students will no longer work in one profession. They will change their profession, which is why the transferable skills that mathematics and natural sciences provide are very important.

Currently, arts, sports and religious schools are classified as specialized, since early development of these particular skills is required in these areas.

Minister Valchev pointed out that in recent decades the biggest setback in Bulgarian education has been in mathematics and natural sciences, which means that there should be more math and sciences classes in the curriculum. "We have worked out a list of measures to boost interest in learning mathematics and natural sciences. We hope that there will be more students in natural sciences and mathematics high schools. Unfortunately, in larger cities this is also a matter of school buildings, but we can give students more motivation, by transforming mathematics high schools into specialized schools," the Minister explained.