site.btaReligion Will Be Compulsory Elective, Not Mandatory Subject - Education and Science Minister

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev said that religion will not be a mandatory school subject. Valchev presented a concept focused on teaching virtues and religion in Bulgarian schools, stressing that religion will be offered as one of the compulsory elective subjects. In Bulgaria’s education system, compulsory electives allow students to choose from a set of required options, and religion will be included among them.

Valchev added that the purpose of this new subject is to reinforce the educational role of Bulgarian schools and promote virtues education. 

“We have promised to release a concept for the alternative programme ‘Virtues and Ethics’ by May 8. This concept aims to illustrate our vision for a subject we propose to include in the compulsory curriculum. We are presenting this programme because the other two alternatives that we are considering – Religion: Orthodox Christianity and Religion: Islam - will largely draw from existing programmes,” the Minister said. 

Valchev added that the document is intended as a starting point for discussion. The programme will be further refined, and the vision developed in more detail.