site.btaEducation Minister: Biggest Economic Losses Will Come If We Fail to Provide Skilled Workers

The biggest economic losses in the future will occur if we fail to supply industries with the skilled workers they need, said Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev during a meeting with the Bulgarian Branch Chamber Machine Building, as quoted by the press center of the Ministry of Education and Science.

“We have always worked well with employers, and many of the most important reforms have been made together,” Minister Valchev said. According to him, a policy was launched in 2016 to fund higher education fields based on labour market demand. “Over the years, we have significantly increased admissions to technical and natural sciences programs at universities, as well as to vocational high schools,” the Minister noted. He emphasized that joint efforts with businesses must continue to promote working conditions in industry, so that this type of education becomes more attractive to young people and students.

For the upcoming academic year, university admissions for mechanical engineering will increase, the Minister announced. “Quality is very important. That’s why we’ve initiated local discussions with higher education institutions—both regarding student requirements and admission conditions for certain programs,” Valchev said. He gave the example of the “Economics” program, where this year 15% of admissions will be tied to results from the national mathematics exam, and next year this percentage will increase to 50%. “We still have to hold this discussion for engineering programs, but there the balance is especially difficult—between the shortage of qualified professionals and the need to maintain standards,” he explained.

The meeting was opened by Violin Nenov, Chair of the Association’s Managing Board. Participants in the discussion included Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Gergana Aleksova-Velikova, MP Petya Zankova, Pazardzhik Regional Governor Valentina Kaytazova, and Mayor of Pazardzhik Petar Kulenski.