The Ministry of Education and Science (Ministry of Education and Science) responded to the proposal of the mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, regarding the declaration of January 3 as a non-school day throughout the country.
The Ministry of Education states that the Municipality of Sofia has not complied with the statutory deadlines for changes in the school schedule. They remind that this schedule is confirmed during the summer months.
"The school timetable affects hundreds of thousands of families, and all discussions about its changes and corrections should be the result of careful discussion,", the ministry said.
According to the Ministry of Education and Science, all proposals for changes in the curriculum must be made before the beginning of the school year. This is necessary so that families can plan in advance both their holidays and the days when children will need extra care from an adult.
Here is the full position:
According to the Preschool and School Education Act, the school schedule is approved before the beginning of the school year.
In July, the Ministry of Education and Culture prepared a draft schedule, which was published for public discussion, and during the procedure, 93 opinions were officially received. The Municipality of Sofia has no proposal within the statutory deadlines.
It should be borne in mind that the school timetable affects hundreds of thousands of families and any discussions about its changes and adjustments should be the result of careful deliberation.
Precisely for this reason and in the Law on preschool and school education, mayors are given the opportunity to announce up to three non-school days within the year for all schools in the territory of their municipality.
The schedule is also subject to statutory provisions. The number of school days for each school term is imperatively regulated in the regulations. Therefore, all proposals for changes in it should comply with these requirements and should be made before the beginning of the school year. So families can plan their holidays and the days when children will not be at school and need the care of an adult.
The Ministry of Education and Culture will continue to consider all proposals that come to the ministry, and as before, will make decisions in the widest possible public dialogue.