Podcast in English
Audio Player
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian language teaching remains a problem for Ukrainian refugees

Photo: BGNES

There are about 87,000 Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria. Nearly 26,000 were accommodated in hotels and state facilities under the government programme that will continue until 31 August, indicate data of the portal "Bulgaria for Ukraine". It is difficult to say where the rest of the people are accommodated, Iva Partsaleva, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Bulgaria, said for the BNR-Varna.

The teaching of Bulgarian language, which relies on the enthusiasm of the NGO sector, is a stumbling block for the integration of refugees in Bulgaria. There is no institution such as the Goethe Institute or the French Institute in Bulgaria that gives Bulgarian language courses and issues certificates of proficiency.

Around 15% of Ukrainian refugees already have employment contracts, but around 60% of them are working in the hotel and restaurant industry, which is seasonal employment. Access to regulated professions remains extremely difficult.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Daniel Mitov

Interior minister orders nationwide inspection of dangerous road sections

Against the background of protests in different towns across the country against the “war on the roads”, the poor condition of roads, corruption in public procurement and flawed road repairs, Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov has ordered a..

published on 4/5/25 2:28 PM
Zhecho Stankov (L) and Alparslan Bayraktar

Changes to gas contract between Bulgaria and Türkiye’s BOTAŞ in the offing

Ways to improve the positions of the sides to the contract between Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz, Bulgartransgaz and Türkiye’s BOTAŞ will be discussed until 2 May. Agreement on this was reached in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Bulgaria’s Minister of Energy Zhecho..

published on 4/5/25 1:39 PM
Hundreds came out to protest in memory of Siyana in Pleven last night

Protests against war on the roads after death of a child in serious traffic accident

A wave of outrage is sweeping over Bulgaria after a severe accident on the Telish-Radomirtsi road (Pleven region), in which 12-year old Siyana lost her life as she was returning from a holiday with her grandparents. A protest is scheduled for today..

published on 4/5/25 11:50 AM