Deputies will discuss amendments to the Higher Education Act on second reading today. This is provided for in the draft program of the National Assembly for this week.
The amendments were adopted on first reading on May 14 this year and introduce a simplified procedure for closing higher education institutions that permanently do not carry out an educational process. It is specified that “permanently“ means within six months of the annual schedule of the educational process.
The changes specify the limitation in the law and allow funds to be provided from the state budget to support the education of students and doctoral students who are studying to acquire the same or lower educational and qualification, respectively educational and scientific degree, in the priority professional areas and protected specialties in state higher education institutions. The amendment is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2026.
The draft program for this week also provides for the parliament to discuss a draft decision to transform the private Higher School of Insurance and Finance with headquarters in Sofia into the University of Insurance and Finance. The draft agenda also includes proposals for the opening of a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine within the structure of the Medical University – Pleven and for the opening of a Faculty of Pharmacy within the structure of Burgas State University “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov“.
The deputies are also expected to discuss draft decisions on changes in standing committees and, at first reading, amendments to the Payment Services and Payment Systems Act.
On Thursday, the parliament is expected to consider at first reading amendments to the Civil Aviation Act, the Electronic Communications Act, the Postal Services Act, the Railway Transport Act and the Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports Act of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The first item on Friday is a Draft Law on Ratification of a Technical Agreement on the Establishment of a Temporary Framework for Providing Support by the Host Country to the Allied Reaction Forces (ARF). On Friday, the deputies are also expected to discuss a draft decision on the adoption of procedural rules on the conditions and procedure for proposing a candidate for a member of the Court of Accounts and the procedure for election by the National Assembly. After that, a regular parliamentary session is scheduled control.