Bulgaria discusses new education funding and teacher salary mechanisms

Bulgaria's Ministry of Education and Science is planning to establish a broad working group, including school directors and social partners, to discuss the mechanism for funding educational activities. Deputy Minister Tanya Pancheva announced that the ministry aims to implement government programs to raise teacher salaries to 125% of the national average wage.

The ministry is also focusing on increasing educational funds while ensuring more efficient and transparent allocation. Key discussions included reforms in preschool and school education, specifically emphasizing better language integration and individualized approaches for early childhood development.

Additionally, the Union of School Leaders expressed support for changes to Ordinance No. 5, which introduces a unified toolkit for tracking child development by measuring both knowledge and skills. Other topics addressed included teacher training, professional qualifications, and strategies to retain young professionals within the education system.