site.bta130,000-Plus Children, Pupils to Be Supported with BGN 257 Mln EU Funding Under Education Ministry Projects

A total of BGN 257 million of European funding will be used to enhance the support and inclusion of children and pupils under two projects, which the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science is implementing under the EU’s Education programme. This transpired at a forum titled "Kick-start Your Success" held in the northwestern city of Vratsa on Thursday. The event was opened by the caretaker Deputy Ministers of Education and Science, Natalia Miteva and Emilia Lazarova, the Ministry’s press centre said.

"The two projects are expected to reach more than 133,000 children and pupils, and just as many parents," Miteva said. She noted that the two projects build on models, tools, and programmes, including the good practices of projects implemented in the previous programming period. "Pupils need additional support during the compulsory classes in kindergartens and schools. This will be addressed by the projects co-financed by the European Union," she added.

Discussing one of the projects titled "Success for You", Lazarova said that its aim is to unleash pupils’ potential for personal development so they can be permanently integrated into school education and their performance can improve. The project was launched in 2023 and will run until the end of 2027. It supports 1,476 schools, of which 1,431 are implementing activities aimed at general and additional support for the personal development of pupils from vulnerable groups, and 188 of them will work with exceptionally gifted pupils.

The project works actively with parents of pupils from vulnerable groups. The focus of the additional support activities is on encouraging and developing the potential of primary and secondary school children with special educational needs, chronic illnesses, outstanding talent, or children at risk. Alternative models will be used to prepare pupils with exceptional gifts for participation in workshops and national and international competitions. Funding is earmarked for the equipment of specialized classrooms and for specialized teaching materials, methodologies, and curricula.