Directorate-General for Education and Culture Eurybase The Information Database on Education Systems in Europe The Education System in Bulgaria 2005/06 European Commission Eurybase – Bulgaria (2006/07) Table of Content 1.1. Historical Overview........................................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies ........................................................................................ 7 1.3. Religions ..................................................................................................................................... 10 1.4. Official and Minority Languages ................................................................................................. 10 1.5. Demographic Situation ............................................................................................................... 11 1.6. Economic Situation..................................................................................................................... 12 1.7. Statistics ..................................................................................................................................... 13 2. General Organisation of the Education System and Administration of Education............................ 16 2.1. Historical Overview..................................................................................................................... 16 2.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments ............................................................................. 18 2.3. Fundamental Principles and Basic Legislation........................................................................... 22 2.4. General Structure and Defining Moments in Educational Guidance.......................................... 25 2.5. Compulsory Education................................................................................................................ 29 2.6. General Administration ............................................................................................................... 31 2.6.1. General Administration at National Level.......................................................................... 32 2.6.2. General Administration at a Regional Level...................................................................... 35 2.6.3. General Administration at Local Level .............................................................................. 37 2.6.4. Educational Institutions, Administration, Management..................................................... 37 2.7. Internal and External Consultation ............................................................................................. 41 2.7.1. Internal Consultation ......................................................................................................... 42 2.7.2. Consultation involving Players in Society at large ............................................................ 43 2.8. Methods of Financing Education ................................................................................................ 45 2.9. Statistics ..................................................................................................................................... 50 3. Pre-primary Education....................................................................................................................... 54 3.1. Historical Overview..................................................................................................................... 56 3.2. Ongoing Debates and future developments............................................................................... 57 3.3. Specific Legislative Framework .................................................................................................. 57 3.4. General Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 58 3.5. Geographical Accessibility.......................................................................................................... 59 3.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of Institution/Centre........................................................ 59 3.7. Financial Support for Pupils’ Families ........................................................................................ 60 3.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Children......................................................................................... 60 3.9. Organisation of Time .................................................................................................................. 61 3.9.1. Organisation of the Year ................................................................................................... 61 3.9.2. Weekly and Daily Timetable ............................................................................................. 61 3.10. Curriculum, Types of Activity, Number of Hours ...................................................................... 61 3.11. Teaching Methods and Materials ............................................................................................. 62 3.12. Evaluation of Children............................................................................................................... 62 3.13. Support Facilities ...................................................................................................................... 63 3.14. Private Sector Provision ........................................................................................................... 63 3.15. Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures............................................................... 64 3.16. Statistics ................................................................................................................................... 64 4. Single Structure Education................................................................................................................ 66 4.1. Historical Overview..................................................................................................................... 67 4.2. Ongoing Debates and future developments............................................................................... 68 4.3. Specific Legislative Framework .................................................................................................. 70 4.4. General Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 70 4.5. Geographical Accessibility.......................................................................................................... 71 www.eurydice.org 1 Eurybase – Bulgaria (2006/07) 4.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of School ........................................................................ 73 4.7. Financial Support for Pupils’ Families ........................................................................................ 73 4.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Pupils ............................................................................................ 75 4.9. Organisation of School Time ...................................................................................................... 75 4.9.1. Organisation of the School Year ....................................................................................... 75 4.9.2. Weekly and Daily Timetable ............................................................................................. 76 4.10. Curriculum, Subjects, Number of Hours................................................................................... 78 4.11. Teaching Methods and Materials ............................................................................................. 82 4.12. Pupil Assessment ..................................................................................................................... 83 4.13. Progression of Pupils................................................................................................................ 85 4.14. Certification............................................................................................................................... 85 4.15. Educational Guidance............................................................................................................... 85 4.16. Private Education...................................................................................................................... 86 4.16.1. Private schools corresponding to law-stipulated types of schools.................................. 88 4.16.2. Private schools not corresponding to law-stipulated types of schools............................ 88 4.16.3. Establishment of Private Schools ................................................................................... 88 4.16.4. Licensing of Private Schools........................................................................................... 89 4.16.5. Financing of private schools ........................................................................................... 89 4.16.6. Free choice of a private school ....................................................................................... 90 4.17. Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures............................................................... 90 4.18. Statistics ..................................................................................................................................