site.btaSofia Mayor: About 6,000 Children in Sofia Will Be Left Without Place in Kindergartens

About 6,000 children will be left without a place in kindergartens in Sofia, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said on Saturday.

He noted that the number may be smaller in the end, as it does not include places in private kindergartens, while some parents apply their children only to receive the state assistance they are entitled to if they are not accepted.

"The shortage is not that big, but we are working to reduce it to zero," Terziev stressed, adding that this could actually happen by the end of his term in 2027, or by the end of 2028 at the latest. Among the problems are the equipment of kindergartens, finding staff and nurses, he emphasized. 

Currently, 26 kindergartens and 11 schools are being built and completed, Terziev noted, adding that Sofia Municipality's Road to Zero programme aims to present a clear plan by 2027 on how to solve the problem of the shortage of nurseries and kindergartens.