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

Ministry of Education denies considering the study of Bulgarian as a foreign language when non-native

Photo: Ani Petrova

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science has come out with proposal that Bulgarian should be studied as a foreign language when non-native, said Yanka Takeva, chair of the Bulgarian Teachers' Union, in an interview with BNR-Varna on Tuesday, 29 August. Takeva described the idea as extremely dangerous. She and the chairman of the Roma Foundation "Amalipe" Deyan Kolev are among the few in the working group who are against this proposal.

According to Takeva, this will lead to greater segregation of communities. Children of migrants and of different ethnicities should receive language support and have additional lessons in Bulgarian. Under no circumstances can our official language be studied as a foreign language in our country, Takeva statedyesterday. She gave as an example other countries where foreign children catch up with language training in order to integrate more easily.

There are over 2,000 Ukrainian children in Bulgaria who are already covered by the educational system. Some of them are integrated into Bulgarian schools, and others attend online classes according to the Ukrainian system, Takeva said.

In a position issued today, the Ministry of Education and Science states that the information about the study of the Bulgarian language as a foreign language when non-native that has appeared is a harmful and dangerous speculation and is connected with the upcoming local election. “In no form and at no time has the teaching of the Bulgarian language as a foreign language, or via another language been on the agenda,” the statement reads. The Ministry of Education and Science states further that, for almost ten years, according to the current standard of Bulgarian language teaching, the only existing definition is “teaching the Bulgarian language as a foreign language to migrant children and pupils, and children and pupils who are applicants for and beneficiaries of international protection”. 



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

Education ministry discusses introduction of virtue and religion classes

Education must make children not only knowledgeable but also good people, said Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev at a meeting with His Holiness Daniil, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia. "We are discussing the..

published on 2/20/25 9:02 AM

President Radev: Only united will we preserve Bulgaria in the global turmoil

"Only united will we preserve Bulgaria in the global turmoil. That bright Bulgaria of Levski, which relies on its own strength. The ancient Bulgaria that feels equal to the European nations. That fraternal Bulgaria of free people, which has defended..

published on 2/20/25 8:49 AM

Premier Zhelyazkov: EU should remain united and predictable in its overall support for Ukraine

The European Union must remain united and predictable in its overall support for Ukraine, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said in his speech at the second emergency meeting on Ukraine, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, announced..

published on 2/20/25 8:32 AM