site.btaSofia Hosts Global Montessori Games

Global Montessori Games opened at Sofia University Monday, bringing together Montessori schools from 4 continents - Asia, Europe, South America and Africa. The participating schools will present their best practices and educational policies.

The forum also includes a presentation of Montessori teaching in Bulgaria and a round table on how to support its implementation.

Bulgaria is hosting the event between October 6 and October 12. More than 130 teachers and students aged 9-12 from 10 countries - Italy, Spain, Turkiye, China, Germany, Scotland, India, Nigeria, Bolivia and the Netherlands - will take part in the event. Bulgaria is represented by two schools.

Among the organizers and partners are the Global Association of Montessori Education and Sport (The Netherlands); the Sofia-based BG Shkolo school; 191 primary school in Zheleznitsa, near Sofia; the Casa dei Bambini kindergarten (Italy) and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation in Non-Formal Education (CIRINO) - Faculty of Pedagogy, Sofia University. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), principals and teachers, representatives of the academic community, students, guests, followers of the Montessori method.

Natalia Mihalevska, Head of the Office of the Minister of Education and Science, welcomed the guests at the event and talked about the first steps of the Montessori method in Bulgaria. Prof. Vanya Bozhilova, Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy, expressed her satisfaction that Sofia University hosts the event. The co-founders of the Global Association of Montessori Education and Sport also spoke at the opening of the event.

The Global Montessori Games is an event that aims to unite children, teachers and parents from different nations, cultures and languages through sports and games based on Montessori principles.

The Montessori Games are a combination of activities - experiential learning and sport, but also a platform to develop social skills, critical thinking and understanding between children in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. The focus is not on competition or winning prizes, but on unity and active participation in sport, embracing the Olympic spirit of fun, friendship, solidarity and fair play.