site.btaEducation Ministry Mobilizes Buses to Ensure Students Can Reach Exam Centers Amid Sofia Transport Disruption

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Education and Science said Saturday it is mobilizing at least 60 buses to transport students and exam supervisors during upcoming matriculation exams in the capital, where disruptions to public transport caused by protesting drivers and staff have raised concerns.

The Ministry has established a task force to manage the situation, led by Minister Krasimir Valchev and including education officials, principals of large Sofia schools, and regional education representatives.

So far, 54 school buses with 1,388 seats have been secured from nearby regions including Lovech, Kyustendil and Sofia District, with the total expected to exceed 1,500 seats by Wednesday. All available Ministry vehicles will also be used for transport during the exam days.

About 350 students have reported lacking alternative transportation to their assigned exam locations, according to preliminary data from an emergency survey sent to schools. Information is also being collected on roughly 3,000 exam supervisors critical to the exams’ administration.

The Ministry urged Sofia Municipality to support the effort and called for a temporary suspension of parking fees in the city’s central paid “blue” and “green” parking zones to ease travel for students, parents, and staff.

The first nationwide graduation exams are scheduled to begin later this week. 

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said earlier in the day that his Municipality is focusing its efforts on ensuring the smooth conduct of the high school matriculation exams scheduled for May 21 and 23. Terziev announced on Facebook that if transport workers' unions decide to continue their strike and risk the future of these young people, the municipality will mobilize all available resources to help students reach their exam locations on time.

The Bulgarian capital was left without surface transport for a fourth consecutive day on Saturday as the transport employees are protesting for better pay.