We Want to Plan State School Admissions in Way We Are Able to Be of Use, Stara Zagora Regional Governor Says

Filip Pavlov, BTA Correspondent Emil Dimov

Stara Zagora Regional Governor Metodi Markov (left) and BTA Director General Kiril Valchev at the local conference in Stara Zagora within the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project, February 26, 2025 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Stara Zagora, Central Bulgaria,

26.02.2025 13:32

(BTA)

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"Europe is not in the Balkans, but the Balkans are in Europe, as it has been scientifically proven that European civilization actually began here," said Stara Zagora Regional Governor Metodi Markov during a local conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project. The conference took place at the BTA National Press Club on Wednesday.

He emphasized that Stara Zagora is an 8,000-year-old city and that much of what is happening in Europe today originated here.

"I would like to highlight one point in today's discussion, and I will quote the Minister of Education, who recently stated that perhaps we need to reconsider what and how we should approach education in the coming years," Markov said, adding that instead of encouraging students to think critically and logically, they are often only memorizing information that later proves irrelevant to society.

"Locally, we have begun with the Investment Programme of the Stara Zagora Municipality, focusing on the construction of industrial zones. We are currently seeking feedback to understand what to expect and what will come next," said Markov. "Together with the Stara Zagora Regional Education Department, we aim to plan the school admissions process in a way that benefits us. We hope to introduce a more specific focus at an earlier stage, so that we do not need to rely on importing workers from abroad," he stressed.

He acknowledged that the process is long and challenging. "Let us also learn from Europe's experience. We have made a start, but let us adopt the best practices for everyone," Markov concluded.

BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. Until September 2025, BTA will host discussions at its press clubs in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

/KK/