For equal access to education

published on 9/27/12 12:04 PM

Photo: BGNES

In the past 10 years two major problems have plagued the Bulgarian high-school education. The gap between the achievements of Bulgarian students and those in western countries is widening. 15-year-old Bulgarians are lagging behind in their language and mathematical knowledge. 41% of Bulgarian students are even below the educational standards. The second gap in Bulgarian education is the gap between the successes of some students, who win medals at international Olympiads and the common level. In Sofia 23% of students have showed results below the minimum literacy level. In smaller towns the number reaches 78%. 80% of excellent students come from families with good social status. These are the results of an analysis of an international study PISA 2009. Some of the possible solutions for providing equal access to quality education were presented at a conference organised by the “Together in Class” NGO and Forbes Bulgaria with the support of the EC. Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Education Milena Damyanova pointed out that measures for increasing the quality of education have already been taken, including pre-school preparation of the 5-year-olds, new curricula and others. According to chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Association Bozhidar Danev, Bulgarian education system should look for and help the development of leaders by using new equipment and innovative methods. According to Mr. Danev it was important to break barriers between education and the labor market. Bozhidar Danev also called for introducing a school rating system. All participants in the conference agreed that the central role of the teacher in the educational process must be preserved.

“The most important thing in the system is the teacher and everything necessary must be done in order to have quality education in the classrooms,” Trayan Trayanov of the Together in Class organisation said. “The teacher’s profession must become desirable for young people. When a young person starts working in a company he or she sees opportunities for career development. There must be such opportunities provided to teachers, as well. The work of principals is also important.”

A total of 5,500 teachers are to pass through a training for work in multiethnic environment. Another training is being prepared for working with children with special educational needs. This would help reduce the gap between student’s results, education expert Anelia Andreeva said. Secretary General of the Ministry of Education Krasimir Vulchev has announced that thanks to European funds financing for education would increase.

“Pouring money into the system will not solve problems,” Mr. Trayanov says. “There are countries that spend the same amount of money as Bulgaria but their students show better results. The question is in the efficiency of spending. Bulgarian teachers spend averagely 11 days in a year more for qualifications than foreign teachers. That is why measures for increasing efficiency must be taken.”

English version: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Rumiana Tsvetkova

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For equal access to education

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