The Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh initiated a meeting between the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev and representatives of the Association of Vocational High Schools in Tourism, at which the proposed concept for changing the curricula at the high school level, also affecting vocational schools in tourism, was discussed. The two ministers noted that the dialogue that has begun will continue in partnership with business and educational institutions in order to find the most appropriate solutions for the future. According to them, the development of tourism requires well-prepared personnel, and this can be achieved through a balanced and sustainable approach to educational policy.
„I want to emphasize clearly – there will be no change in the number of hours of vocational training for this school year. The curricula remain in their current form, and the proposed amendments are only at a conceptual stage and apply, at the earliest, to the 2026-2027 academic year. The most important thing is to find a balanced approach that combines vocational training with general education and guarantees good realization of young people,“ said Minister Borshosh.
Minister Valchev explained that the published materials are for preliminary discussion and do not represent a final version or draft of a regulatory document. He added that the Ministry of Education and Science, together with schools, will seek a balance of vocational training and general education, so as to achieve a balance between the wide spectrum of competencies and the requirements of the labor market. It was emphasized that practical training is not planned to be reduced.
The Association of Vocational High Schools in Tourism expressed their concerns that a possible reduction in hours in professional profiles would harm the preparation of students and emphasized the importance of specialized focus for the quality of personnel in tourism. They stated their readiness to participate in an expert discussion to search for a balanced solution that would give their high schools a perspective and competitiveness.