Bulgarian MPs Divided on Preschool Education Act

Bulgarian MPs postponed the discussion of the mandatory pre-school education over disagreements on several texts. File photo

The Bulgarian Members of the Parliament failed to reach an agreement on the Education Act, just one day after the official start of the school year.

The amendments provide for mandatory pre-school education for 5-year-olds, two years before they start first grade.

Bulgarian municipalities have received an extension until 2012 before the mandate is enforced. Pre-school classes can be held either in daycare centers or at schools and will be free of charge.

The opposition parties – Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), along with the far-right, nationalist Ataka party, who are the closest allies of the ruling center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), insisted that 5-year-old receive priority enrollment over 6-year-olds, which was rejected by GERB.

The discussion and the decision were postponed over the disagreement, with newly appointed Deputy Education Minister, Milena Damyanova, saying the Ministry experts would work to clarify the amendments' text and the debate would be renewed Friday.

She further explained parents will decide where to enroll their children – in daycares or schools, adding 160 Bulgarian municipalities have declared desire and readiness to introduce pre-school classes.

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