site.btaCabinet Allocates BGN 23 Mln to Improve Educational Facilities

The government is allocating BGN 23 million for three key programs to improve educational infrastructure, Education Minister Krassimir Valchev announced at a Wednesday briefing at the Council of Ministers.

The funding will support:

• construction, expansion, and renovation of kindergartens and schools;
• building and repairing school gyms and sports facilities;
• upgrading, furnishing, and renovating student dormitories.

“These are the top three investment priorities in the education system, which will absorb the most significant funding,” Valchev noted.

In 2017, 360 schools operated on a two-shift schedule. That number has since dropped to 220, and is expected to fall below 170 after these programs are implemented. So far, 43 projects for school construction and expansion have been financed.

Over 450 schools lack gyms. Under the sports infrastructure programme, 101 projects for new gyms and 66 for gym renovations have been approved. As a result, fewer than 300 schools will remain without gym facilities. Additionally, 376 schools are working on projects to build or renovate sports fields, including football and basketball courts.

Valchev also announced that 21 student dormitories are being renovated under the dormitory improvement program.

Funding for these programmes will be provided through municipal budgets.