The Education System in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian educational curriculum gives priority on the following subjects: Bulgarian language and literature, mathematics, information technologies, natural sciences and ecology, social sciences and civics, music and art, and foreign languages. The country’s literacy rate in 2003 is about 98.6%, more or less the same for males and females. The Bulgarian government allotted about 4.9% of its national government for education in 2003.

The educational system of Bulgaria composes of the basic, secondary, and higher levels. Basic education is divided into 2 categories – elementary (grade 1 to 4) and presecondary (grade 5 to 8). Secondary education has 2 types – comprehensive (high school) and vocational (technical school). The higher education on the other hand has 3 kinds – Universities, Colleges, and Specialized Higher Schools. There are 5 school days in a week, and the school year is made up of 2 terms – Easter and Summer Break. Bulgaria uses the numerals grading system of which 6 is the highest grade while 2 is the lowest.

Some of the top universities in Bulgaria include the Sofia University (also known as the St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia, is the oldest higher education institute in the country established on October 1888), Technical University of Sofia (largest technical institution in Bulgaria with 14 main faculties in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Sliven), Sofia Medical University (founded in 1917 through his Majesty Zar Ferdinand’s decree, it is the oldest institute for higher medical teaching), and Plovdiv University (named in honor of Bulgarian historian Paisiy Hilendarski, second biggest university in Bulgaria and the city’s top scientific and cultural institution). From 1995 to 2002, the government reported that university graduates rose from 33,000 to 50,000. There were about 42 higher institutions in Bulgaria with almost 216,000 enrollees.