site.btaEducation Minister, Employers' Association Discuss Need for Urgent Education Reforms

Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev and the Association of Bulgarian Employers' Organizations (ABEO) have discussed the need for urgent reforms in the education system, with a focus on aligning curricula and learning programmes to meet the labour market demands, the ABEO said in a press release on Friday.

The ABEO identified education as a national priority, noting that its quality is crucial for improving the quality of life in this country. The association said that the number of students graduating high school has dropped by 25%, and the number of pupils pursuing further education has decreased by more than a third. More than half of ninth-graders are functionally illiterate, according to the latest international estimates.

Despite efforts to adjust education programmes to meet business needs, the system remains insufficiently flexible, and the "money follows the student" principle does not seem to enhance quality, the ABEO representatives said. They stressed the need for a strategic overhaul of state admission plans for both higher and secondary vocational training.

Minister Valchev said that the rapid development of global economies requires children to develop a broad range of complex skills. "That is why the Education and Science Ministry deems the change in the curriculа and programmes in secondary education the most important and urgent reform. They need to be more flexible. We will strive to further encourage universities to raise entry requirements and attract more young people to technical courses. I will seek expert and political support for these and other reforms and policies that I consider fundamental for Bulgarian education," Valchev said.

The ABEO expressed strong support for the Education Minister’s plans to update the curriculа, with a focus on skills, increase vocational classes at the expense of language classes in non-language high schools, introduce compulsory matriculation exams in mathematics, increase SME participation in dual training for vocational high school students, encourage universities to promote courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and raise graduation requirements for higher education.

All participants at the meeting also agreed on key initiatives such as introducing results-based financial incentives, extending the school year in secondary education, and actively involving businesses in curriculum development to ensure that graduates are well-prepared for the labour market.

Other topics discussed included promoting vocational education, increasing state funding for internships for pupils and students, raising scholarships for key courses, and expanding internship opportunities in real work environments for pupils after the age of 14, among others.