site.btaSurvey Shows Strive for Improvement in Training among Young Educators

A survey has found that younger educators strive to improve their qualification and skills. The teachers' trade union affiliated with the Podkrepa Labour Confederation has conducted a survey about the type and regularity of teacher trainings among 1,515 respondents, mostly teachers and school principals.

The average age of respondents is 47.3 years, which is lower than the national average of 54 years. This shows that younger teachers actively wish to receive further training, said the teacher union chair, Yulian Petrov.

Only 14.7% of respondents are men, which is even lower than the actual lack of male teachers in Bulgaria.

The average teaching work experience in Bulgaria is 23 years.

78.9% of respondents have master’s degree, and 18.6% a bachelors degree. 2.4% have a doctoral degree.

Regarding the regularity of qualification trainings, 19.4% of teachers completed four or more courses; 19.5% three courses; 33.9% two courses; and 27.1% one course.

68.5% of teachers completed state-funded trainings, while 33.3% used their own money.

The timing of courses is a major issue: 51% are held on weekends, which the respondents believe to be a flawed practice and contributes to teacher burnout. It also speaks about lack of institutional support from the Ministry of Education, stated the Trade Union.

The most sought-after courses are: Innovative Teaching Methods – 49%; Burnout – 41.8%; Experience Sharing – 39.9%; Teachers’ Rights – 31.8%; Digital Skills – 26.8%; AI in Education – 25%; Conference Participation – 16.8%; Internal Institutional Qualifications – 14.4%; Building Resilience – 7.5%; and General Teaching Methodology – 5.5%.

The survey shows that teachers are one of the professions that require the most regular qualification trainings. It is time for the Ministry of Education to optimize the administrative process of teacher training, and make it more sustainable, transparent and in line with the actual needs, said the Education Trade Union.