Sofia University academics oppose unified textbooks

Professors and scholars from Sofia University and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences have announced their opposition to the introduction of unified textbooks for history and civilizations, Bulgarian language and literature, and geography and economics.

During a press conference, representatives from three faculties of Sofia University, including deans Prof. Mira Markova and Prof. Amelia Licheva, argued that a single textbook would restrict the right to intellectual growth and impose outdated doctrines of conformity. Prof. Milko Palangurski from the Institute for Historical Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences characterized the imposition of a single textbook as political censorship.

The academics emphasized that teachers should have the autonomy to choose the most appropriate educational materials for their students' needs. Prof. Markova noted that educational pluralism is the standard in many European countries, such as France, Spain, Italy, and Poland, where multiple publishers provide diverse options. She further stated that the practice of using a single unified textbook is most common in non-democratic political systems.