site.bta2026 Education Budget Is Best Possible Compromise between Budget Situation and System's Needs - Minister Valchev

Speaking in Plovdiv on Friday, Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev said that the 2026 education budget is "the best possible compromise between the budget situation and our needs." He noted that no minister is ever fully satisfied because intentions are always greater than the available resources. "If I told you I was satisfied, it would mean I do not understand the system’s needs. We will be able to implement several priorities, but not all of our good intentions for the budget. This is the normal budget reality. As a minister, of course, I want everyone in the sector to receive more," Valchev added.

He said that funding has been earmarked for salary increases. Additional resources for kindergartens will also be provided. Funding has been earmarked for the National Career Centre and career counsellors. The budget also includes financing for a programme aimed at encouraging students to remain, study, and work in Bulgaria.

The Minister said that in the era of artificial intelligence, it is crucial to retain the country’s top students, particularly in mathematics, computer science, and linguistics. In his words, more and more young people are choosing to study in Bulgaria. "We will not finance studies at foreign universities. We will finance studies in Bulgaria," he said, adding that increasing numbers of top-performing students see Bulgarian higher education as an opportunity. This year, more students have enrolled at Bulgarian universities than in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, with most choosing Sofia University, he added.

Another budget priority is investment in school infrastructure, Valchev said. He added that a new programme was launched this year to help train teachers that prepare students for international Olympiads, as many of the country’s best educators and Olympiad team coaches are retiring. "At the moment, we have children who are staying in Bulgaria, but we do not have teachers. In previous years, it was the opposite: we had teachers, but the children were going abroad," he said.

Valchev expressed satisfaction that salaries in the sector will rise at a rate higher than the average increase for the public sector. He stressed the importance of keeping pace with average wage growth, which has accelerated in recent years. Inflation must also be offset, he added.