site.btaContinue the Change Puts forward Changes in Contemplated Revisions to Pre-school, School Education Act

The Continue the Change (CC) party announced Monday that it has submitted changes to proposed revisions to the Pre-school and School Education Act, published for public consultation by the Ministry of Education and Science. The party has made suggestions in ten areas for touching up the contemplated revisions:  artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation; wider access to quality private education; religious education; teaching Bulgarian to children with a different mother tongue; school management; quality assessment; more math for more students; socially just planning; the role of parents and the rights of special-need children; propaganda.

The party calls for a legal framework to enable the development of platforms for personalized learning, digital assistants for students and teachers, and digital administration systems. The proposals emphasize personal data protection and equal access to technology for both students and educators.

CC opposes the removal of the current requirement for private schools and kindergartens that receive public funding to offer at least 20% of their spots free of charge to children with special educational needs (SEN) or exceptional talents. According to CC, removing this measure would deepen social inequality and limit vulnerable children’s access to quality education.

The party also rejects a proposal to make confessional religious education mandatory in public schools, describing it as risky and discriminatory. Instead, it proposes keeping this component elective for those who wish to participate, while introducing a compulsory subject titled Virtues and Values, to be taught to all students regardless of background.

On the issue of language support, CC suggests clarifying the legislation to distinguish between children with a different mother tongue and those with general language deficits. The party also proposes requiring specialized teacher qualifications and early diagnosis of language difficulties at the pre-school level.

Regarding school governance, CC calls for term limits for school principals, a maximum of two four-year terms, and proposes involving school governing and teaching councils in the selection process. This measure aims to reduce political interference in education and enhance accountability and effectiveness.

The party also advocates for the introduction of "value-added" metrics in education, based on results from national external assessments and matriculation exams.

Another proposal calls for equal early specialization rights after grade 4 for all schools offering mathematics and science tracks, not just specialized math schools.

CC suggests introducing special admission planning rules in cities with administrative subdivisions such as Sofia, where the actual distance between schools can be greater than in small municipalities.

The party firmly rejects a proposal that would strip parents of children with SEN of their right to participate in decisions regarding their child’s form of education. According to CC, this could endanger the child’s best interest and lead to institutional exclusion.

CC also calls for a legal definition of the term “propaganda” to prevent misuse. “Within the meaning of this law, propaganda is the dissemination of information in a biased or misleading manner to promote a specific cause or point of view, without being based on scientific knowledge in the given field,” the party explained.

Due to the significant public interest and the number of proposed amendments, CC calls for the draft bill to be republished for further public consultation.