site.btaEducation Minister, UNICEF Representative to Bulgaria Christina Dorothea de Bruin Discuss Cooperation, New Priorities

Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev met with UNICEF Representative to Bulgaria Christina Dorothea de Bruin, the Bulgarian Education Ministry said here on Tuesday. During the meeting, the good cooperation between the two countries was confirmed and new priority areas of joint work were identified.

"In the Education Ministry's draft vision for curriculum change, we put a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning. We need to create measures and policies to support and train teachers in the way of teaching and values formation," Valchev said. He said teacher qualifications should be organized and conducted on certain topics that are important and relevant to public life. As an example was given the intention to train all teachers against the distribution and use of drugs among children and students. 

From this year, the Education Ministry is also introducing a completely new module under a national programme to develop social-emotional skills of primary school pupils. Nearly BGN 200,000 are earmarked for training of more than 5,000 children from 1st to 4th grade. Teachers, principals, deputy principals, as well as parents will be involved in the activities. 

During the meeting, de Bruin pointed to the Steps Together joint programme between the Education Ministry and UNICEF as a good example of social-emotional impact on children. It is being implemented for the third year in a row in the form of peacemaker workshops in which students and mentors support teachers in solving school cases and problems and work to create a more conducive school environment. Through it, children talk to other children, can openly share their concerns, be listened to and guided in resolving a particular situation.