Lisbon Strategy Forces Bulgaria to Educate 4-Year-Olds

Bulgaria Education Minister, Sergey Ignatov, has said that the EU Lisbon Strategy means that the Bulgarian government will soon have to cover the education of 4-year-olds.

Ignatov, speaking on BNT Friday, said that Bulgaria is already prepared and added that BGN 7,5 M was provided in the 2010 budget to allow pre-school education to begin at 5 years old.

He continued that the idea of supplying free education to all 4-year-olds is a great way to counter problems in minority groups in the country. Ignatov however confirmed that it is unlikely for 4-year-old children to be included in the state education system until 2012.

Regarding his Tuesday announcement that Bulgarian private schools and nurseries will be granted state subsidies, equal to those of their state-run counterparts under the new draft High School Education Act, Ignatov said that under Bulgarian law “all children are equal, the law requires us to ensure equal access to education for them.”

He concluded that only 7000-8000 children currently receive private education in Bulgaria, meaning that they would not put any major pressure on the overall budget.

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