Over 2,200 places in nurseries in Sofia are threatened with closure if nurses of retirement age cease their work. According to current legislation, each nursery group must have two nurses in order to exist, and in the event of a shortage, one must be replaced by a teacher, however, appointed to the position of nurse. Because of this condition, there are no applicants. Is there a solution to the case so that it does not come to the point that while waiting for the construction of new kindergartens, operating nursery groups are closed.
In the capital's 8th kindergarten, there are three nursery groups, which are attended by 69 children. There is no shortage of nurses. However, the key point is their age. The youngest is 62 years old, and the oldest is 80. Antonia Doneva is a nurse who has dedicated her life to children for a long time. She is 70 years old. Although she is retired, she does not stop working.
Antonia Doneva - nurse: "The children who need a nursery are getting younger and younger, and the nurses are getting older, but somehow we complement each other. It will be sad for me to stay at home, but at some point I will also want to rest, there is a limit, you cannot be here for the rest of your life, but the children will always be in my heart."
Velička Popova - director of 8 DG "Prof. Dr. Elka Petrova: "At some point, if these women decide to stop working, I don't think we will be able to find younger replacements."
By requirement, there must now be two nurses in each nursery group. In case of shortage, an exception is made, and a teacher is appointed as the second nurse, but with the position of nurse.
Desislava Zhelyazkova - Deputy Mayor for Education at the Sofia Municipality: "Which definitely makes this position unattractive, since people do not have internships in their specialty. If only nurses over 70 leave the system, this means that more than 2,000 children in Sofia will be left without nursery care. We are constantly closing nursery groups due to the lack of staff. And this year the general ranking will have even fewer places for children of nursery age, this is a real threat."
Directors of childcare facilities are raising the question – what is the need for children in nursery groups to be raised by nurses. And the Sofia Municipality is insisting on regulatory changes.
Desislava Zhelyazkova – Deputy Mayor for Education at the Sofia Municipality: "Nursery care should be transferred from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Education, nursery care should be carried out mainly by pedagogical specialists. The nurses who now work in nurseries have their place in the offices in schools and kindergartens."
Velička Popova - director of 8 DG "Prof. Dr. Elka Petrova": "Anyone who has graduated from preschool pedagogy would be able to cope. First aid is periodically organized for all staff, this training is passed."
Currently, there is a shortage of 300 nurses in kindergartens in the capital.