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2 clusters · 7 sources · 24 days · First seen · Last updated

Rising school-related costs in Bulgaria

Overview

Rising costs for school-related services have become a concern for parents in Bulgaria. At the start of the academic year, school meal prices saw significant increases. In some areas, single meal coupons approached 4 euros, with daily costs for lunch and snacks potentially exceeding 7 euros. In Sofia, specific schools reported coupon price hikes from approximately 3.07 euros to 3.40 euros, while other locations saw jumps from 2.50 euros to 4 euros per coupon.

By mid-October, concerns expanded to include the cost of school excursions. In Sofia, one-day trips to nearby villages have risen to approximately 45 euros per child, excluding food. This represents a notable increase from previous years. The similarity in pricing across different routes and the limited number of organizers have led some parents to suspect a potential cartel or a lack of market competition, though no specific evidence of illegal practices has been presented.

Entities

Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate · National Network for Children · Zahari Stoyanov 104th School · Plamena Nikolova · Bulgarian Food Safety Agency

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Sofia parents report sharp price hikes for school excursions

    Parents in Sofia are reporting sharp price hikes for school excursions, with costs rising to 45 euros per child, sparking suspicions of a potential cartel among tour operators.

  2. [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    School meal prices rise at the start of the academic year

    School meal prices are rising as the new academic year begins, with some Bulgarian school coupons reaching 4 euros per meal, causing increased financial pressure on families.

Sources

bonitet.com · dominomagazin.com · glas-slavonije.hr · novilist.hr · novini247.com · telegraph.bg · travelnews.bg