Bulgaria Education Reform Bases Universities' Financing on Ratings

Bulgaria's Education Minister, Sergey Ignatov, is introducing significant changes in the country's education system. Photo by BGNES

Financing of Bulgaria's universities will depend on the quality of offered services and professional realization of the students, Education Minister, Sergey Ignatov, announced.

Ignatov said Monday that the new financing will be introduced as early as 2011, adding financing of the different departments will also be diversified.

The ratings of all universities should be ready by the beginning of October, 2010.

Regarding the Higher Education Act, which was passed by the Parliament on April 15, Ignatov pointed out that only about 366 individuals from Bulgaria's 20 000 scientists and scholars are against it and it is natural for such significant reform to meet some opposition.

Meanwhile, young scientists are organizing through Facebook a march in Sofia Wednesday to protest the changes.

The Education Ministry is also presenting soon amendments of the School Education Act. They include elimination of grading for students in grades 1 – 3 while students in grades 1 – 4 will not repeat the school year over low grades; they will be provided additional instruction.

School principals will be assessed each year on performance and will be replaced for poor results.

Students in middle and high school will also have e behavior grade - “commendable,” “good,” and “needs improvement.” Students will poor discipline can be expelled, asked to do community work, suspended and/or required to be home schooled.

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