Strengthening the educational function of the school is one of the most important things we need to do. A large part of the problems in our society today are a function of the weakened educational function. This was stated in "The Day Begins" on BNT by the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev.
In the new school year, the priority will be the programs. Valchev commented that currently there is no single measure of the quality of education - there are problems related to the motivation to learn, especially in natural sciences - mathematics, physics and chemistry.
"We have problems with the curricula, with the fact that teachers and students do not have time, they rush, this produces a culture of memorization - when a student does not have time to think, he simply studies for the exam and then forgets. The assessment, which should be aimed at measuring skills, we need to change the curricula, there are not enough classes in any general education subject".
The Bulgarian education system educates national self-awareness, but both patriotic and civic education can and should be increased, the minister believes. The priority will be the formation of relationships and attitudes, since currently the programs are full of facts, concepts, but relatively few skills.
According to him, the system for sanctioning students is not working well, and teachers refrain from imposing remarks. One of the main problems remains the use of phones in class - it is planned that teachers will be able to impose remarks for this much more easily - such as marking.
"Phones will be able to be used for educational purposes, for medical needs. And currently, schools organize the non-use of phones by their own rules - it is not mandatory to collect them, but students should not use them. Teachers should be able to sanction them if they violate the rules. Schools are confident that they will be able to organize this and collect phones once a day, not before every class".
Teachers also need to change their teaching methods, because today's children are finding it increasingly difficult to motivate themselves.
"Health education is also extremely important, which we have also emphasized, children can lead 5 to 10 years longer and better lives, and this depends on the habits created at school. Thematic meetings with parents and thematic lessons are planned regarding various addictions, but teachers must be ready to talk to students on the topic and create attitudes against drug use.
There cannot be a universal time for starting school - some are elementary, others teach children from grades 1 to 4, and the biggest problem is in those with a two-shift regime, where classes cannot be extended later, explained Valchev.
"The most important thing we need to do is to continue building and expanding schools.".
The applied tasks in the mathematics exam after grade 7 will not be difficult, the minister also said. Their conditions will simply include basic concepts from natural sciences such as voltage, power, heat, acidity - which every child should know, he explained.