site.btaPM Zhelyazkov: School Is State’s Most Important Social Service

School is the temple to which the State must devote the greatest care as the most important social service, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said Monday at the opening of the new school year at Elin Pelin Primary School No. 83 in Sofia.

To have a successful school where children acquire knowledge and virtues and build their value system together with their families, there must be teachers, Zhelyazkov said. "Teachers are the most respected people in our society, because they impart wisdom, knowledge and virtues to our children, so that they can grow up to be worthy Bulgarians and citizens," the Prime Minister noted.

In the last ten years much has been done for teachers and this is already producing results, Zhelyazkov said. More and more young teachers are entering the education system, and over 20% of teachers are now under 35. This is the best proof that the teaching profession is attractive, he added. Considerable investment has also been made in school infrastructure, with over BGN 2 billion allocated for the renovation of buildings, classrooms, sports grounds and gyms.

According to the Prime Minister, STEM laboratories are being purposefully set up to put more focus on the natural sciences, because that is where the future lies. Much is also being done to ensure that no child is left outside the education system. More than 70,000 children have already been brought back to school, which is over 10% of all students, Zhelyazkov noted. He also emphasized the importance of school sports and wished pupils knowledge and play on their first school day.

The new 2025/2026 school year began on Monday in over 2,300 schools across the country, with around 57,000 first-graders, a total of over 716,000 students, and 95,500 teachers.