The Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and of the Slavic Alphabet 24 May is one of the few festive occasions in Bulgaria not marred by the eternal disputes between “philes” and “phobes”. The fact that not even a single politician has ever tried to use the day for generating political dividends is telltale of the day’s great symbolism. However, what is the point of respecting so much 24 May when the state has been neglecting many problems in the sectors of culture and education? Despite ongoing discussions, there is hardly any optimism that things may change soon. Nevertheless the first step toward change is to have faith in it – as well as strong unity.

Every child can achieve great scores at school provided he or she is motivated and their interest is encouraged. The way to switch to new models of teaching and learning requires a change in attitudes towards the new gaming and interactive methods of teaching. They have long been part and parcel of the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of pupils all over the world, and are gradually making their way in this country too. With their help, pupils imperceptibly, efficiently and permanently acquire the information they need. Apart from new technologies, however, education in Bulgaria urgently needs young people who are willing to return to school as teachers. Statistics suggest that young teachers employed in the sector comprise 0.61% of all teachers and the average age of teachers is 50.

Figures from the “Education” trade union at Podkrepa Labor Confederation are even more alarming. According to them some 25,000 teachers are past retirement age and their number is set to grow. Low interest in the teaching profession is driven by several factors. The first and foremost among them is low pay which despite yearly indexations remains unsatisfactory against the background of the efforts and the working conditions that teachers have to come to terms with. Security comes second, weakening interest in teaching jobs. The problem with aggression among pupils that makes itself evident at an increasingly early age shows in almost daily media reports of threatened or even physically hurt teachers. This undermines their health, impacts negatively on their psychological state and ruins both their reputation and the reputation of the profession. Urgent measures are needed to put an end to this detrimental trend, which is turning schools into battlefields while they are meant to be temples of knowledge. The ability to fight and aggressive opposition to everything does not make us winners, as we often might be misled to think. The key to victory lies in knowledge. Therefore, the role of the teacher, both in the past and nowadays, is so important. Whoever has gone to school in his life remembers with a smile or not some of his or her teachers; the remarks or praises he or she has received. Teachers leave a lasting mark in our hearts and are among the brightest examples to follow.

Aware of the importance of good examples that are going to change attitudes and the interest of society in education, the team of the educational platform uchilishta.bg has launched a national campaign with the motto The Awakeners. It will last one year. More about its goal – from Rumen Bakalov:

“The idea of ​​the platform is for free nominations of persons from the field of education. It does not matter whether he or she is a teacher in a kindergarten or in junior high school. It is also unimportant whether he or she will be nominated by his or her colleagues, pupils or pupils’ parents. The important point is to make these people visible. Our campaign does not seek to make anybody a winner, but to show as many good educational practices as possible. Participants will receive only a badge that reads “Awakener”. There is no competition and everyone who is nominated will be a winner because the people in his or her circles have appreciated the exceptional approach to education that he or she has demonstrated.”

English Daniela Konstantinova