Bulgarian Education Minister emphasizes science-business links and teacher support

Bulgarian Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Georgi Valchev, has called for stronger connections between scientific research and industrial application to support local community development. Speaking at the presentation of the National Intellectual Property Map, Valchev highlighted the importance of competence centers and high-technology hubs in utilizing the research potential of universities to solve business and municipal challenges.

Valchev also emphasized the need to preserve traditional crafts, such as woodcarving, ceramics, weaving, icon painting, luthiery, and stonemasonry. The Ministry of Education and Science supports training in these protected professions through specialized funding and scholarships.

In a separate meeting with the new UNICEF representative in Bulgaria, Mio Nemoto, the Minister addressed the challenges facing the educational system. Valchev stated that teachers cannot be expected to manage all societal provocations alone, calling for collaborative efforts between educational institutions, families, and other organizations. Discussions focused on teacher training, the rational use of new technologies in learning, and the importance of early childhood development through independent methods and play.