# Bulgarian academic calendar and education funding debates > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-academic-calendar-and-education-funding-debates > Updated: 2026-08-24T09:32:45.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science is finalizing the 2026-2027 academic calendar, leading to debates over the school year start date and spring vacation timing. While the Ministry’s draft proposes a September 15 start, the Union of School Leaders suggested September 14 to allow for more flexible holiday scheduling. Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva has also advocated for a spring break from April 3 to April 11, 2027, to prevent student fatigue. In response to these scheduling discussions, the Education Syndicate has rejected the September 14 proposal, labeling it a ‘farce’. The syndicate is also calling for a genuine Christmas break and a change in how vacation durations are calculated. Beyond scheduling, the syndicate has raised concerns regarding the 2027 education budget, arguing that funding is decreasing. They are advocating for the government to allocate 6% of the GDP to education and are proposing a new funding model that includes the number of teachers as a component to help guarantee salaries in smaller schools. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-24: Education Syndicate rejects September 14 school start date Bulgaria's Education Syndicate rejects a September 14 school start date and calls for increased education funding, proposing a new budget model that includes teacher numbers as a funding component. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/education-syndicate-rejects-september-14-school-start-date ### 2026-08-24: Bulgaria debates 2026-2027 school year start date and vacation schedule Bulgaria's Ministry of Education is debating the 2026-2027 school calendar, specifically whether the year should start on September 14 or 15 and how to best schedule the spring vacation. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgaria-debates-2026-2027-school-year-start-date-and-vacation-schedule --- Cite as: Bulgarian academic calendar and education funding debates. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-academic-calendar-and-education-funding-debates