single.php

Educational Framework Bulgaria

Short Description
Bulgaria developed and adopted its National Strategy for Active Aging covering the 2012-2030 period, which includes a complex cross-sector approach to active and productive adult living in good health. It encompasses the adaptation of social systems to demographic change and the aging of the population, the labor market, pension system, social assistance and care, healthcare, education, culture and others.

Full Description

Recent trends in Education policy in Bulgaria

Bulgaria developed and adopted its National Strategy for Active Aging covering the 2012-2030 period, which includes a complex cross-sector approach to active and productive adult living in good health. It encompasses the adaptation of social systems to demographic change and the aging of the population, the labor market, pension system, social assistance and care, healthcare, education, culture and others.

Bulgaria is implementing reforms at all levels of education as it is a political priority. The emphasis is on reducing early school dropout rates, increasing teacher wages, introducing dual learning, enhancing digital skills and strengthening inclusive education.

The main groups of formal and non-formal education providers in Bulgaria are public educational institutions such as general education schools, vocational schools, universities, public VET centres and employment centres as well as private vocational training centres, language and computer literacy schools, employers’ organizations, trade unions, non-governmental organizations and enterprises with their own training centres.

Licensed Vocational Training Centres (VTC)
They can be created by the state, local authorities or private providers and are licensed by the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training (NAVET) to organize courses for specific professions listed in the license, rather being addressed to adults, than to children and young people. VTCs are authorized to issue Vocational Training Certificates at Level 1 to 3 in the same way as Vocational Schools and Colleges in the formal system.

Employers’ organizations
Workplace training plans are much more widespread in the public sector and large companies than in private businesses and micro-enterprises. Workplace training is much more common in larger businesses.

Professional alliances
Professional unions have a new role as independent representative organizations. The rapid changes in society and the legislation to which trade union members need to adapt require continuing vocational education and training, as well as training in democracy to build active citizenship in Bulgarian society. Courses are open to participants outside the ranks of the trade unions.

Craft Chambers
The apprenticeship training of apprentices is regulated by the Crafts Act and by several regulations of the Bulgarian Chamber of Crafts, which are drawn up in consultation with the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training (NAVET).

Cultural Centres (Cultural Libraries, “Chitalishte”)
The Bulgarian Cultural Centres are self-governing cultural and educational institutions with a separate legal status, whose tradition dates back to the 19th century. Their main activity has been extended over the years and led to the creation of many aspects of contemporary cultural life in Bulgaria. Today, cultural centres have the task of opening new paths of action. The most active chitalishte are now again independent adult education institutions, united in several national networks. They are governed by the Chitalishte Act.

The training of unemployed persons is carried out through different schemes by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: the development scheme is aimed at training for acquiring or increasing the professional qualification of unemployed persons registered with the labour offices for the purpose of being hired. Representatives of the respective target group receive vouchers to cover the costs of the training.

Statistics
Adults participating in formal education and training or informal learning in 2016-2018 include 24,5% men and 52,5% women.
By age
Learners in the 25 – 34 age group are 29.6%.
Learners in the 35 – 54 age group are 27.0%.
Learners in the 55 – 64 age group are 14.7%.
The percentage of trained  people in the cities is 28,1%, whereas the percentage of trained people from villages are 14,1 %.
Persons who have participated in an independent form of training amount to 49,1 % men and 24,7% women. (Author: Emiliya Velikova)

Further Reading

University of Ruse Angel Kanchev

Design and Development by arivum.