2. Education in Bulgaria is compulsory until
the age of 16. The school year consists of two
terms. It starts on September 15th and ends in
May or June/depending on students’ age/. The
education system consists of the following
levels:
1. Pre-school education;
2. Primary education;
3. Secondary education;
4. Higher education.
4. Pre-school education
Pre-school education is
for children aged between
3 to 6/7.
The attendance of
kindergarten is optional.
Kindergartens are
usually state, there are
also private kindergartens
and their number is
growing, especially in the
capital.
5. Primary education
Primary education
(classes 1 to 8) covers
primary and secondary
schools. Basic education can
be obtained at state,
municipal or private schools.
Certificate of primary
education shall be issued to
students who have
successfully completed 4th
grade.
Students, successfully
completed grade 8, receive a
certificate of completed
primary education.
6. Secondary Education
General secondary education (high school level) is
offered by:
1. General Secondary schools /all general subjects are taught/.
2. Special schools with intensive foreign language teaching (language
schools) . Admission is made after the 7th grade, and after taking
entrance exams in Bulgarian language and Literature and Maths.
3. Specialized vocational schools - admission is made after 8th grade -
these schools include an enhanced learning in Science, Maths,
Humanities, Sports, Arts, Clothes Design, Music, etc.
Secondary education can also be obtained at technical
schools, after the completion of grade 8, and 4-year course.
Educational training programs in technical vocational schools
are available and the duration of the course is 2 years. Acquired
professional qualification facilitates graduates in their access to
professional market.
7. There are 41 High Schools in my country.
Among the most popular are:
Sofia University- Alma Mater;
Plovdiv University;
The American University in South-west of BG.
Among the most preferable specialties are:
International Tourism;
Laws;
Medicine;
Computer Systems and Technologies;
Management and Economics.
The academic year starts around Oct.1st and lasts 30 educational
weeks. It includes spring and autumn semesters.
Some 20 years ago, during the Socialist regime, High Education
in BG used to be free. The approximate tax nowadays for an
academic year varies around 400-500 Euros.
8. Grading in my country
Teachers mark us using the six- level grading system
Excellent 6
Very Good 5
Good 4
Satisfactory 3
Poor 2
9. School Holidays
We don’t go to school on:
We also have an autumn, winter,
spring and the long summer holiday.
24th May is the day of the Slavic alphabet and
culture. Had the two Solun brothers not written the
Glagolhic alphabet, and then the Cyrillic, few
nations, including Bulgaria, wouldn’t have been
using it.
10. On graduating 12th grade we pass 2
obligatory mature exams – one in Bulgarian
language and literature, the other is selected
among subjects learned at school.
High –flyers take international exams ,
such as CAE, TOEFL, IELTS to continue
education in some European or American
Universities.
The less ambitious make a family or find
a job- not so bad, imagine you earn one
thousand a month!