site.btaAssociation of Bulgarian Schools Abroad, Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad Sign Memorandum of Cooperation

Zornitsa Gogan, Chair of the Board of the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad (ABSA), and the Executive Director of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA), Rayna Mandzhukova, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Wednesday, during the 19th Annual Conference of the Association. The conference is held at Sofia University from July 21 to 23.

After the signing of the memorandum, Rayna Mandzhukova said that the two institutions had always worked closely together, even without formal protocols, and expressed confidence that this partnership would continue in the future.

For her part, Zornitsa Gogan announced that during the General Assembly of the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad, held on July 21, Rayna Mandzhukova was unanimously elected as honorary member of the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad.

Following the official opening of the conference, a roundtable discussion began, focusing on the current challenges and future prospects of Bulgarian education abroad.

Zornitsa Gogan expressed hope that the forum would provide a platform for open and constructive dialogue among Bulgarian schools abroad, the academic community, and government institutions. It was stressed that the programme offers an opportunity not only to address the key issues facing Bulgarian schools overseas but also to work together in identifying sustainable solutions in the best interests of Bulgarian children and Bulgarian communities around the world.

It was noted that the topics included on the agenda were formulated based on the proposals and experience of members of the Association from across Europe.

Among the key topics are the strategic development of Bulgarian education abroad, the financial sustainability of Bulgarian schools, the recognition of the Bulgarian language within foreign education systems, access to higher education in Bulgaria, as well as issues related to the quality of education and the professional development of teachers.

The meeting continued with a discussion and consideration of the proposals put forward by the participants.

The Annual Conference of the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad  is held under the auspices of Minister of Education and Science Georgi Valchev. The conference is co-organized by the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad), while the Department of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language at Sofia University is host.

The conference brings together representatives of Bulgarian schools from around the world, as well as representatives of government institutions, universities, cultural and educational organizations, and partners of the Association.

Among the conference’s main highlights are the challenges and future prospects facing Bulgarian schools abroad, the preservation of the Bulgarian language, culture, and national identity, as well as the development of partnerships between institutions and Bulgarian communities around the world.