“There are always some problems, but the school year cannot start without the school having a principal. The school year in any educational institution cannot start without the educational process being secured. So whatever problems and difficulties there may be, the school year began everywhere with secured teachers and principals“. She commented on this in the program “Face to Face“ on bTV Deputy Minister of Education Emilia Lazarova.
From her words it became clear that temporary acting principals have been appointed in some places.
Fewer first-graders
„There are definitely fewer first-graders this year and this can indeed be linked to the demographic crisis“, she noted.
Later start
Lazarova explained that in schools that have a two-shift training regime, it is almost impossible for students to switch to a single shift and start later.
„What Minister Valchev appealed for and we sent a letter to the school principals is for all schools to have a single shift regime, respectively for students to start later“, explained the Deputy Minister of Education.
„It is very complicated. We need to talk to the teachers, but especially to the parents. It depends on the parents - especially in big cities, what time their working day starts, they mainly transport their children. It depends on whether their children - especially if there are two of them, study in one place, or they have to take them to different places“, commented Emilia Lazarova.
According to her, parents do not generally prefer the earlier start time for the learning process and it is better for everyone if the children start later.
“Out of 2300 schools, 226 have a two-shift regime. In them, where possible, there can be a flexible start of the school day for different classes. They could start at different times. But this is also advisable, because it is very difficult to implement“, she pointed out.
No mobile phones
Emilia Lazarova explained that the complete ban on mobile phones in school rather depends on school policy and conversations with parents.
Changes in the National Higher Education Examination in the seventh grade
Regarding the changes in the national external assessment in the seventh grade, she agreed that everyone feels like guinea pigs.
“Parents are rather extremely worried, because every parent is trying to provide the best education for their children. The results in the seventh grade from the national external assessment are also used as an entrance to the next educational institution, which worries them. They should not be worried, we have already published sample models of the national external assessment in all subjects, including mathematics“, explained the deputy minister.
“The exam is in mathematics - it doesn't matter that there are six tasks in natural sciences. Basic competencies from the curricula of these natural sciences are covered and the tasks are solved with mathematical knowledge and skills“, she added.