„One textbook for one subject in one class is a long, consistent and reasoned battle of the BSP and the PG of the "BSP for Bulgaria". Before I speak on the merits, I would disagree with the statement before me that the textbook had to correspond to the understanding of the particular government and that frequent changes of government would lead to frequent changes in the content of the textbooks. If we look at education like this – bad job. If you think that every government, according to its ideological orientation, should change the children's textbooks – bad job. Does that mean we have to change history, replace the classics? There are things - and Bulgarian education is one of those things - on which there must be cross-party agreement. Because education – this is the future, this is the children. And depending on how we prepare them for that future – such a future we will get“.
This was stated by the People's Representative from the “BSP for Bulgaria” Kornelia Ninova from the parliamentary rostrum today during the debate on the Socialists' proposal to change the Law on School and Preschool Education“.
She emphasized that she will give a clear example to support the arguments why the BSP insists on having a state policy regarding education, that it be followed regardless of political and differences and that it is aimed at leaving the education system literate and prepared for life people.
Cornelia Ninova gave three examples from a textbook for the 7th grade on literature, by a Bulgarian publishing house, citing: The first example is the wonderful poem by Pencho Slaveykov “Inseparable“: “First libe, first sevda, don't yearn, don't cry, that for us they do not become my father, your mother. True words, true love, is there any ruin for them. For the hearts that love and death has not parted“. In the 7th grade, in the literature textbook, this text is taught like this: “I told her a thousand times that this boy is a jerk and is not for her. I will separate them at any cost. How are they not ashamed, they are still children. I have to report to the director”. This is how you learn “Inseparable“ of Pencho Slaveykov“, she pointed out.
Next example Ninova gave with another bright Bulgarian classic – “At harvest“ of Elin Pelin: “A strong harvest is boiling on the flat Sofia field. But then a barefoot kid ran up and called out in fear that Penka had passed out from the heat. God, another victim. If hail had struck, it would not have killed hearts like that. How do you think this is taught in 7th grade? Here's how: “Most often accidents at the workplace are caused by being pressed, smeared and crushed by something. The second cause of severe injuries is a fall from a height. Electric shocks and landslides follow. And on top is the title “After harvest”, by Elin Pelin”. This is how it is studied in the 7th grade“, pointed out Cornelia Ninova and continued:
„Lastly, because the textbook abounds with such examples: Ivan Vazov, because that really “impressed me“ and it hurt: his wonderful poem about the Bulgarian language, which we are all proud of and we all go everywhere on May 24 and say that we too have given something to the world – the letters, the language: “Language sacred to my ancestors, has anyone understood how much beauty, power is hidden in your speech, flexible, ringing, from ruinous tones, what splendor, what scope and expressiveness alive”. Ivan Vazov. The children are taught the beauty and richness of the Bulgarian language in the 7th grade like this: “Advantage #1: While traveling, Bulgarians can discuss whatever they want without others understanding them and without them worrying. Here, this is an undoubted advantage of the Bulgarian language”, Ninova quoted what was written in the textbook and addressed the people's representatives:
„Do you like this? For all this in Bulgarian textbooks, for the replacement of Bulgarian history, for the destruction of Bulgarian classics, for the sterilization of Bulgarian children, we pay 100 million BGN per year. From every Bulgarian, from every home. 100 million goes into private pockets because we are here debating whether the state had a role in education or whether everything should be outsourced to private companies. These things are written by private teams, approved somewhere in the Ministry of Education, 100 million are paid and the children learn this”, pointed out the leader of the Socialists in resignation and emphasized:
„The result: 40% of Bulgarian children leaving school are functionally illiterate. Erasing memory, attitude towards family and fatherland, values, Bulgarian classics, Bulgarian history, taking away the self-esteem of the Bulgarian people", said Kornelia Ninova.
She recalled a conversation from the last parliament with what she said was a former minister of education from a party that is now represented in parliament: “I say this with respect to him because we are political opponents, but he told me the following : He was shocked when he entered the Ministry of Education and found that there was a state printing house that was on the verge of bankruptcy because there were no public procurements for it and no orders for printing textbooks. And 100 million goes to private publishing houses. And you are going to tell me that there is no corrupt interest here and there is no lobbying that this will never be changed? There is. There is, because I have personally encountered it for the last 8 years, since our battle for 1 textbook for 1 subject in 1 class is not from yesterday. She is consistent, reasoned and single minded – our children and the future", said Cornelia Ninova from the parliamentary rostrum.
After the speech of the former Minister of Education and deputy from GERB Krasimir Valchev, Ninova turned to him: “Mr. Valchev, you solved a big problem for me, since all day yesterday and since the morning they have been accusing me, including from your parliamentary group that this brochure on gender education for children that I was showing does not exist and was not distributed in school. I have heard from you an admission that she has been to at least one school. And we got it from there. I.e. I didn't lie – explain this to your colleague Georg Georgiev, who explained yesterday that there is no such thing. Well, we heard from your people that there was”, Ninova responded.
The resigned BSP leader was categorical: “I absolutely do not accept the suggestion that we blame the teachers for what is happening. The problem is not the teachers. The problem is in this hall and beyond – in the Council of Ministers. Because in this hall the laws are forged and the management models of various systems in Bulgaria are created. When it is said here that there can be 10 textbooks and that teachers can choose between them, they fulfill the will of the legislator and the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Education, which created this model of education, Ninova pointed out.
In her words, the teachers are not to blame for the fact that here someone invented the principle “money follows the student”. They just perform it. And they keep a list of students who don't go to school, so that they can save their school from being closed, so that they don't lose their numbers, so that they don't lose funding, which is why they have to close their schools.
„We do not accept that the responsibility is transferred to the teachers – here is the responsibility and it will show itself in the next vote. I know many teachers who are not happy with this approach, with the way you make them choose between many textbooks, they are simply forced by the system. That is why we have said many times – we want to change the pattern. The scattering of responsibilities between different teams leads to what I read to you. Messy responsibility is general irresponsibility”, said Cornelia Ninova and urged:
„ If there is will and desire for the state to become the center of educational policy, to set as its goal the exit of literate children – there is also a solution. When there is no desire – justification is found. When there is – a way is found. We offer you one of these ways. If you don't like it, support us on first reading and improve it between first and second reading.