On May 20, all Bulgarian state universities and some private universities announced that they will not open their doors to students in protest.
This is stated in a letter signed by 44 rectors of Bulgarian universities to the state institutions. Also, during the celebrations on the occasion of May 24, all teachers, scientists, researchers and workers in the Bulgarian higher schools will join the processions on the occasion of the holiday with protest ribbons on their lapels.
This is how they want to demonstrate their disagreement with "the complete discrepancy between the words and deeds of Bulgarian politicians and statesmen".
The Council of Rectors sets 20.05.2024 as the starting date for staggered protest actions of all higher schools until the end of the semester (protests will be expressed in a gradual increase in the days on which higher schools will not work). These actions may include actual blocking of key arteries in the country.
"We appeal for understanding and support from the entire Bulgarian society and especially from the students and doctoral students. Our actions are not the result of a momentary emotion, but of a long-standing repressed dissatisfaction that has already turned into justified anger. On the eve of the brightest holiday for the academic community – On May 24, the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and of Slavic Writing, we are forced to address the entire public in another attempt to be heard and understood," the letter reads.
"Teachers, scientists and employees in the administration of higher schools are the backbone that forms the so-called “elite of the nation”. It is necessary that the care for Bulgarian science and education is brought out as a main national priority in the policies of the state", the Council of Rectors emphasizes.
They point out that over the past three years, the funds from the gross domestic product intended to finance Bulgarian universities have drastically decreased. The salaries of teachers, assistants, docents and professors are humiliatingly low and non-competitive compared to those of persons occupying positions that require a less high educational and intellectual qualification.
Here is what else is written in the rectors' letter:
With great efforts in March of this year, with an amendment to the Law on Higher Education, at the insistence of the entire system, rules were adopted tying the provided funds from the state budget for education and science to a certain minimum percentage. Labor remunerations of the academic staff of state higher education institutions are fixed in relation to the average gross salary for the country.
For a long time, the most talented young people in Bulgaria did not choose a career in science. There is also a turnover of qualified persons to teaching professions and commitments in the secondary education system, and others that are not related to education. At the same time, the system undergoes positive internal transformations. According to official data of the independent rating rankings, the publication activity and citation rate of Bulgarian scientists in prestigious international refereed and indexed editions in the last 5 years has increased not in percentages, but in times.
Against the background of the commitments that the state officially declared to the academic community with the amendment of the Law on Higher Education, there followed a silent refusal to fulfill the obligations under it and to provide the necessary funds. The state, in the person of the executive power, refuses to fulfill its obligations that the legislative power has assigned to it. Moreover, the state in recent years has ignored the contribution and importance of private higher education for the social and economic development of the country.
For weeks, the rectory managements and the Council of Rectors, which represents them, have been unsuccessfully wandering in the labyrinths of the bureaucratic internal relations of the state, in an attempt to ensure what the law itself guarantees, the Council of Rectors emphasizes.
Because of the humiliating attitude of Until now, the voice of the academic community does not reach high decibels, because we are led by the belief that not its strength, but the argumentation of theses and requests are leading. Such an approach on our part is seen as naive and ineffective by those we depend on to do their jobs.
For these reasons, for the first time since the beginning of the Transition and change in 1989, we, the Bulgarian scientists and teachers from the national state universities and part of the private universities, will take effective protest actions due to non-fulfillment of the obligations assumed by the state towards us and non-compliance with The Law on Higher Education.
We express our full support to the protests organized by the trade union structures of VON - KNSB and “Higher Education” to the CT “Support“, which have identical requests to those of the academic community, and which will be held on the same day.
On May 24, all teachers, scientists, researchers working in Bulgarian higher education institutions will join the processions on the occasion of the holiday with protest ribbons on their lapels, as an expression of disagreement with the complete discrepancy between the words and deeds of Bulgarian politicians and statesmen.
With the above and according to Art. 92 para. 1 and para. 3 of the Higher Education Act, we are adamant in our demands to ensure the achievement of an average gross salary for the academic staff in state higher education institutions of not less than 180 percent of the average gross salary for the country and to ensure a minimum basic salary for the lowest academic position in public higher education institutions, not less than 125 percent of the average gross salary for the country, emphasizes the Council of Rectors.
We appeal for understanding and support from the entire Bulgarian society and especially from the students and doctoral students. Our actions are not the result of a momentary emotion, but of long-term suppressed dissatisfaction, which has already turned into justified anger.
We call on all bodies of state power to rethink their attitude to higher education in Bulgaria, so as not to reach the unspeakable shame of permanently closing Bulgarian universities due to bankruptcies and underfunding. Humility, common sense, will and foresight are required. We hope to see them in the behavior of those on whom the fulfillment of our requests depends.
Historically, the Bulgarian has always highly valued and placed on a pedestal the education of his children. We must not forget that the national histories of other nations were written by generals and politicians, and the Bulgarian one was written by teachers and scientists. We hope this truth will reach those who make the decisions for our future, regardless of their party color and ideological color, the letter also says.
14.05.2024
Sofia
Sincerely:
The rectors of higher schools in the Republic of Bulgaria
Prof. Dr. Miglena Temelkova
Graduate School of Telecommunications and Posts
Prof. Dr. Ivaylo Koprev
University of Mining and Geology "Saint Ivan Rilski"
Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov
University of National and World Economy
Art.-cor. Prof. Dr. Miroslav Dachev
National Academy of Theater and Film Arts "Krastyo Sarafov"
Senior Commissioner, Prof. Dr. Ivan Vidolov
The Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – Sofia
Prof. Dr. Eng.- Icon. Daniela Todorova
Higher Transport School “Todor Kableshkov“
Assoc. Dr. Eng. Anita Khandruleva
Lyuben Karavelov Higher School of Construction
Prof. Doctor of Law Boris Velchev
Graduate School of Insurance and Finance
Assoc. Dr. Ana Hubanova
College of Management, Commerce and Marketing
Assoc. Dr. Hristo Mihailov
Forestry University
Prof. Boycho Lanzhov
Medical University – Sofia
Prof. Dr. Sava Dimitrov
National Academy of Music "Professor Pancho Vladigerov"
Prof. Dr. Krasimir Petkov
National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski"
Prof. Georgi Yankov
National Academy of Arts
Prof. Dr. Georgi Valchev
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
Prof. Eng. Ivan Kralov
Technical University
Prof. Gichka Kutova
University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy
Prof. Senya Terzieva-Zhelyazkova
University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy
Prof. Dr. Irena Peteva
University of Library Science and Information Technology
Assoc. Dr. Boryana Ivanova
Agricultural University – Plovdiv
Prof. Dr. Zhan Pehlivanov
AMTII “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” – Plovdiv
Prof. Dr. Milen Baltov
Burgas Free University
Prof. Dr. Petar Hristov
VSU "Chernorizets Hraber"
Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov
University of Veliko Tarnovo "St. St. Cyril and Methodius"
Assoc. Dr. Ekaterina Kyuskieva-Arabska
Higher School of Agribusiness and Regional Development – Plovdiv
Associate Professor Dr. Todor Radev
Higher School of Management - Varna
Prof. dpn Georgi Manolov
Higher School of Security and Economics, Plovdiv
Prof. Dr. Evgeni Stanimirov
University of Economics – Varna
Prof. Dr. Dobromir Dimitrov, d.m.
Medical University – Pleven
Prof. Angel Uchikov, PhD
Medical University – Plovdiv
Prof. Dr. Dimitar Raykov
Medical University – Varna
Prof. Dr. Georgi Apostolov
International Business School, Botevgrad
Prof. Plamen Kangalov
"Angel Kanchev" University of Rousse
Assoc. Dr. Marin Marinov
Business Academy“ D. Tsenov“ – Svishtov
Associate Professor Dr. Stefan Serezliev
"Luben Grois" Theater College – Sofia
Prof. Dr. Dragomir Plamenov
TU – Varna
Prof. Dr. Eng. Iliya Zhelezarov
TU – Gabrovo
Prof. Dr. Dobri Yarkov
Thrace University – Stara Zagora
Prof. Hristo Bozov, PhD
University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov"-Burgas
Prof. Dr. Galin Ivanov
University of Food Technology – Plovdiv
Prof. Ph.D. Natalia Vitanova - Marinova
Shumen University “Bishop Konstantin Preslavski“
Prof. Dr. Nikolay Marin
Southwest University "Neofite Rilski" – Blagoevgrad
Prof. Dr. Marin Marinov
European Polytechnic University – Pillow
Associate Professor Dr. Stoyan Kirov
College of Tourism - Blagoevgrad