Bulgarian Ministry of Education proposes new school discipline measures

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving school discipline and student retention. Deputy Minister Tanya Pancheva presented the plan, which is built upon four primary pillars designed to focus on prevention and early support rather than strictly increasing punishments.

The proposed measures include:

• Institutional cooperation between schools, social services, health authorities, and local governments to better support at-risk students. • The creation of a unified information system to identify children at risk of dropping out of the educational system. • The introduction of a personal development map for students from grades I to XII, which will track strengths and weaknesses and provide feedback to parents at the end of each term. • The appointment of a personal development specialist, potentially a pedagogue with psychological training, to work within schools.

The Ministry intends to subject these proposals to wide public discussion involving teachers, parents, and experts. The final model will incorporate international experience and European expertise in inclusive education and supportive school environments.