site.btaContinue the Change Tables Amendments to Pre-school and School Education Act Relating to Virtues, AI

The Continue the Change party tabled two bills to amend the Pre-school and School Education Act, relating to virtue education and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, the party's press service reported on Tuesday. The bills were finalized following discussions with a range of experts, representative organizations and parents.

The first bill, tabled by Nikolay Denkov and a group of MPs, proposes the introduction of a new general education subject, Virtues and Values, to be included in the curriculum from the 2027/2028 school year. The goal is for pupils to develop moral virtues, civic culture, respect for human dignity, democratic values, cultural heritage and social responsibility. The programme covers topics related to ethical behaviour, human rights, volunteering, resilience against all forms of violence. The subject is in line with the secular nature of Bulgarian education, and the activities involved in its introduction can be implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science within the framework of the existing education system.

The subject is not of a confessional nature and does not aim to provide religious education or foster affiliation with a particular faith. In this subject, knowledge of religions is regarded as part of humanity's historical, cultural and spiritual heritage, and its introduction will be carried out in stages, as stated in the explanatory memorandum to the bill.

The second bill proposes a comprehensive framework for introducing teaching on the use of AI, as well as for developing critical thinking and soft social skills in schools. Pupils will be required to declare when they have used AI in their assignments. Teachers will receive specialized training in working with AI technologies. Schools will adopt rules governing their use and publicly disclose which systems they use. Penalties are also provided for in the event of misuse or breaches. The goal is for pupils to learn to use modern digital technologies safely and ethically, as well as to analyse information, communicate effectively and work in teams, whilst developing critical and independent thinking through regular classroom debates.

The explanatory memorandum to the bill states that a regulatory framework is being established which integrates AI-related competences into the existing system of pre-school and school education, without creating a new subject and without altering the fundamental principles governing the organization of education.

Last week, Democratic Bulgaria tabled a package of legislative proposals to amend the Pre-school and School Education Act, which provide for language support and a new approach to early childhood development. Progressive Bulgaria also proposed amendments to the same law, to facilitate the early detection of language difficulties among pupils, to improve language integration, and to introduce Virtues and Religions as a new school subject.