site.btaEC's Education Priorities: Skills Development, STEM, Math and Science

Education minister Krasimir Valchev met with European Commission (EC) Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Minzatu, his Ministry said here on Tuesday. Minzatu stressed that skills development, STEM and math and science education are among the EC's education priorities.

Valchev briefed the EC's Vice-President on the reforms that the Bulgarian Ministry is planning in the system of pre-school and school education and thanked the EC for the fruitful cooperation. He pointed out that with the help of EC funds in recent years, important activities for the education system have been restored in Bulgaria, including full-day education and interest-based activities. ‘The funds from the European Social Fund pave the way for us to upgrade the system,’ said Minister Valchev. He pointed to positive trends in the education system.

Thanks to the collaborative work and efforts of the institutions under the mechanism for joint institutional work on coverage, inclusion, and dropout prevention for children and students in compulsory pre-school and school age, there is a lower dropout rate in Bulgaria, Valchev said. He explained that the country has introduced compulsory pre-school education for children from the age of four and parents of kindergarten children do not pay fees.

Minzatu stressed the importance of the EU initiative - Union of Skills - related to improving the quality of education, training and lifelong learning. She said skills development is key to achieving the competitiveness objective and therefore expects support for this policy in view of the EU's 2028-2034 Budget. The EC Vice-President also cited research showing that one in three European students has a problem with mathematics. In order to overcome negative trends, STEM education, mathematics and science education are among the Commission's priorities in the field of education.