The Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva supports the proposal that the spring vacation for students in the 2026-2027 school year be from April 3 to 11 inclusive, instead of the alternative proposed period from April 30 to May 9. This is stated in a statement by the Ombudsman, sent to the Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Georgi Valchev. It is in connection with the public discussion of the Draft Order for Determining the Schedule of School Time, the Ombudsman's press center reported.
„Moving the vacation to May does not provide the necessary balance between school time and rest and may negatively affect the physical, mental and emotional health of students“, the opinion states.
„According to the proposed schedule, students will go through an extremely long period of four months of intensive training and continuous learning process – from January 3, 2027 to April 30, 2027, without a real vacation“, Delcheva emphasizes. According to her, the two days between the first and second school terms cannot be perceived as sufficient restorative rest. The prolonged period without a real vacation creates prerequisites for the accumulation of fatigue, difficulties in concentration and a decrease in motivation to study.
The Ombudsman notes that in May there are already non-school days due to state matriculation exams and official holidays. This would make the educational process even more fragmented. According to her, preserving the spring vacation in April will allow students to regain their strength before the final part of the school year and will create a more balanced rhythm between study and rest.
“Organization of school time, in which students are in a continuous learning process for four months, will not lead to an increase in the quality of Bulgarian education, but on the contrary“, the Ombudsman argued her position. Delcheva explained that in decisions about the organization of school time, the best interest of the child must be the leading factor. Therefore, the schedule should be consistent with both the quality of the educational process and the health and well-being of students.
The Ombudsman recommends that the spring break remain in April, which, she said, will ensure a more balanced organization of school time in the interest of all Bulgarian students.