site.btaKids Demand Better Psychological Health Care, Up-to-Date School Curriculum, More Sporting and Cultural Activities

A lack of paediatric and specialized medical care for children in small settlements and outdated and unsuitable facilities were among the issues in 2025 highlighted by the Children’s Council functioning under the Chairperson of the State Agency for Child Protection (SACP). The Council concluded during a meeting that every child should have the right to one annual visit to a psychologist and there should be access to a more tolerant environment and greater support for children with special educational needs, the SACP reported on Sunday.

Healthcare and mental health, culture and sport, combating anti-social behaviour, road safety, and education are the five key areas of children’s lives that focus groups of members of the only national children’s advisory body in Bulgaria discussed and used to compile a report with their proposals.

Regarding the educational process, the Children’s Council believes there should be more practically oriented subjects, as well as classes on career guidance and emotional intelligence. They emphasize that education is a process involving three parties – parents, children and schools. Effective cooperation between them is key to successful learning. More dialogue and joint initiatives are needed to build trust and improve communication, the children note.

Free student tickets for cultural events, the renovation of theatres and community centres in small settlements, and more child-focused activities are only some of their proposals. Regarding sport, they noted a positive trend of increasing interest in sporting activities, but highlighted that opportunities for participation are lacking in some areas.

The young people also called for more effective enforcement of curfews. In night-time establishments, age checks and declarations are practically absent, and access control is often severely compromised, they point out.

The work of the focus groups and the report of the Children’s Council will be presented at a meeting of the National Council for Child Protection.

For another consecutive year, the SACP consulted the Children’s Council and included it in discussions on various topics and issues concerning young people. During its sessions, the Council discussed the SACP’s national campaign against vaping, nitrous oxide and designer drugs. Online safety was also on the agenda for the children. Over the past year, members of the children’s advisory body represented the voices of Bulgarian children at important national and international forums.