site.btaPatriarch Daniil Confers with Teachers’ Trade Unions, Discusses Introduction of Religion Classes in Schools

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil met Friday with the Chairman of Podkrepa Trade Union’s National Education Chapter, Dr. Yulian Petrov, and the Secretary of Podkrepa’s Sofia Regional Division, Mariana Grozdanova. The meeting took place at the Sofia Metropolitanate, was also attended by the legal adviser to the Holy Synod, Maria Kyoseva, and Dimitar Goranov, Chef de Cabinet of His Holiness Daniil, Sofia Metropolitanate said.

The trade union representatives acquainted Patriarch Daniil with the results of a national survey on the policy of education and formation of the value system in children and school students. The poll showed that according to the prevailing public opinion, religious education plays a key role in personal development and social stability, which underscores the need and importance of introducing a subject of "Virtues and Religion" into the education system.

The two sides noted positive impact of studying Christian virtues on students, their parents and society, as it helps raise responsibility in adolescents, reduce aggression in school environment and strengthen family ties. In addition, the view was shared that the study of the subject "Virtues and Religion" will help open new jobs in the secondary and higher education systems.

His Holiness Patriarch Daniil expressed gratitude for the efforts the members of the Podkrepa Trade Union are making towards the introduction of the subject "Virtues and Religion" in the general education curriculum of Bulgarian schools.

Earlier this week, Patriarch Daniil also met with the Chair of the Bulgarian Teachers’ Trade Union chapter of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), Yanka Takeva. The Holy Synod’s legal Adviser Maria Kyoseva was also in attendance, Sofia Metropolitanate said.

His Holiness acquainted Takeva with the proposal to introduce the subject of “Religion – Orthodoxy” in the curriculum of Bulgarian schools, underscoring the benefits it brought to the education of young people, the formation of Christian values and their upbringing as responsible citizens.

He expressed his gratitude for being invited to attend the concert marking the 35th anniversary of the teacher’s CITUB trade union on March 24. His Holiness highlighted the importance and the tireless and selfless efforts of generations of Bulgarian teachers from the National Revival.