site.btaBolhrad High School Protocol Prevents Upper Classes from Closure - Education Minister

"My visit to Kyiv was timely and could not be postponed. If my Ukrainian counterpart and I had not signed the protocol, the upper classes at the G.S. Rakovski Bolhrad High School would have been closed," said Education Minister Sergey Ignatov on Bulgarian National Television on Saturday.

He explained that Ukraine is implementing an educational reform and, starting in September, the upper classes at this high school were scheduled to be closed. The protocol concerns only the Bolhrad High School and has nothing to do with the teaching of the Ukrainian language in Bulgaria.

Minister Ignatov recalled that the Bolhrad High School is one of the most cherished memories for every Bulgarian from the Revival period. It was founded in 1858 with funds raised by patriotic Bulgarians. A significant part of the Bulgarian revolutionary and intellectual elite completed their education there, including the first rector of the Sofia University Alexander Teodorov-Balan, and Prime Minister Alexander Malinov.

The protocol guarantees that students of Bulgarian descent will continue to study the Bulgarian language, as well as Bulgarian literature, history, traditions, and customs, along with other subjects in Bulgarian, in accordance with the curriculum at Bolgrad High School. In addition, they will be provided with textbooks and educational materials necessary for organizing the learning process.

The protocol also stipulates that the Bulgarian side will cover enrollment for higher education, bachelor’s or master’s degrees, after the completion of full secondary education for the top graduate of Bolhrad High School, as well as for the winner of the All-Ukrainian Bulgarian Language and Literature Olympiad.

“The Bolhrad High School is ours; it was not gifted to us. This protocol has been in preparation since 2022 and has no expiry date. We must provide support to the Bulgarian community in Ukraine and not be stingy in our assistance,” said Minister Ignatov, adding that Ukraine has no claims regarding content in Bulgarian history textbooks.

“Nothing has been signed on this topic, and there is no conflict with Russia,” explained Ignatov.

He also spoke on the topic of artificial intelligence.

“The changes in technology are enormous, but there is no gap between generations. I interact with young people every day. Artificial intelligence has penetrated everywhere, and teachers need to undergo training to use it in education. I want to express my gratitude to former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov for being very active in this field,” said Minister Ignatov.

According to him, it is impossible to ban social media, because students cannot be isolated from technology until the age of 16.