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[POLITICS] · Bulgaria · 21 sources

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Bulgaria begins 2026/2027 school year with 700,000 students

Bulgaria has officially commenced the 2026/2027 school year, with over 700,000 students returning to 2,322 schools across the country. More than 55,000 children are entering the first grade for the first time. The Ministry of Education and Science highlighted significant structural investments, including the launch of over 2,000 new STEM centers funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, totaling more than 250 million euros. Additionally, over 600 school repairs were completed during the summer months to improve learning environments.

To support families, the Social Assistance Agency is distributing a one-time subsidy of 153 euros to eligible students in the first and fourth grades, as well as the eighth grade. Nearly 50,000 students have already received the first installment.

While most celebrations across cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Ruse were festive, some challenges remain. In Sofia, students at the 38th Primary School held a symbolic protest wearing helmets due to concerns regarding the safety of the 130-year-old historic building. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency has announced month-long inspections of school canteens and buffets to ensure compliance with safety and quality regulations.

Entities

Bulgaria · Georgi Valchev · Humanities High School 'St. Cyril and Methodius' · Kostadin Dimitrov · Ministry of Education and Science · Plovdiv · Rumen Radev · STEM centers · Social Assistance Agency · Veliko Tarnovo

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [● 2 SOURCES] Over 2,000 new STEM centers and high-tech classrooms are available for the new school year. varnanews.net · www.iskra.bg
  • [● 2 SOURCES] More than 55,000 first-graders are starting school for the first time. varnanews.net · www.iskra.bg
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Over 250 million euros has been invested via the Recovery and Resilience Plan to improve educational infrastructure. varnanews.net · www.iskra.bg
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Nearly 40,000 Bulgarian students are attending Sunday schools across 44 countries. varnanews.net · www.iskra.bg
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Plovdiv expects 44,373 students to begin the 2026/2027 school year.
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Over 700,000 students in 2,322 schools are starting the new school year in Bulgaria. varnanews.net · www.iskra.bg
  • [● 2 SOURCES] There are over 92,000 pedagogical specialists in the education system, including over 20,000 in kindergartens. varnanews.net · www.iskra.bg
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] In Plovdiv, 3,301 first-graders will enter renovated classrooms for the new school year.

Sources