Constitution

The Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, promulgated, State Gazette, issue 56 of 13th July 1991, last amended State Gazette issue 100 of 18th December 2015, sets out the major principles of free development of education (Article 23) and the right of every Bulgarian citizen to education (Article 53).

Pre-School and School Education Act

The pre-school and School Education Act (promulgated in State Gazette No. 79 of 13 October 2015, in force since 01.08.2016) regulates public relations related to the provision of the right to pre-school and school education as well as the structure, functions, organization, management and financing of the system of pre-school and school education.This law applies to school vocational education and training, unless otherwise regulated by the Vocational Education and Training Act. The law regulates the state educational standards in the system of pre-school and school education, which are a set of mandatory requirements for the results in the system of pre-school and school education, as well as the conditions and processes for their achievement. The law defines the institutions in the pre-school and school education system, namely kindergartens, schools, personal development support centers and specialized service units. The law also deals with the validation and recognition of learning outcomes in the pre-school and school education system.

The Act on Amendment to the Pre-school and School Education Act was published on 18 September 2020. It is related with implementation of compulsory pre-school education also for children at age 4. The compulsory pre-school education is carried out in the kindergartens but also it is allowed in the schools. The goals of the suggested changes are:

• to facilitate access to education by removing the barriers so to support addressing the inequalities;
• to encourage the inclusion and prevent social inclusion, and subsequently the drop-off school children from vulnerable groups. This is to ensure support for addressing learning difficulties by early needs identification; 
• to prevent the accumulation of deficits and also to contribute for improving literacy and acquiring skills and attitudes to lifelong learning;
• to set opportunity for payment from the state budget of owing fees for kindergarten by parents as funds will be planned in the municipalities budgets;
• to establish effective control over the school boards’ activities executed by the minister of education and science and the 28 Regional departments of education.

With an amendment published in the State Gazette, issue 23 of 2024, it was given to high school graduates or persons holding a secondary education diploma, once within the academic year of their graduation or the following academic year, to take an exam according to the order of the state high school exams in a subject in which they have already successfully passed a state high school exam, on the educational content intended for studying the same type of preparation. This is done with the aim of achieving better results for applying to higher education and does not change the grade from the state high school exam in the secondary education diploma.

Starting from the 2024-2025 school year, all preschool children and all students from grades 1 to 12 inclusive will be provided with free educational books, textbooks and study sets, and e-readable textbooks for general education subjects, the subjects Mother Tongue, Religion, and Choreography, and for special subjects for students with sensory disabilities.

Vocational Eudcation and Trainining Act

The Vocational Education and Training (VET) Act, (promulgated, State Gazette issue 68 of 30th July 1999) defines the purpose and the tasks of the vocational education and training system, its structure and nature, regulates the organisation, institutions, management and financing of the system of vocational education and training, and the social relations in connection with:

• ensuring the right to vocational education and training of the citizens according to their personal interests and possibilities;
• meeting the needs for qualified manpower which is competitive on the labour market;
• providing conditions for functioning and development of the system of vocational education and training based on cooperation between its institutions and the bodies of the executive power and the local independent government and the social partners;
• validation of professional knowledge, skills and competencies.

The Vocational Education and Training Act regulates the general requirements for the organization of the vocational education and training system and determines the conditions and procedures for acquiring vocational qualification. Pursuant to this law, vocational education ensures the acquisition of secondary education and vocational training and may also be carried out through work-based learning (dual education system).The Law regulates the completion, certification and recognition of vocational education and training as well as the content of vocational education and training. The Law regulates the vocational education and vocational training of pupils in special educational needs and / or chronic diseases, pupils from homes for children without parental care and deviant behavior. The VET Act regulates both vocational training in the formal education system and vocational education and training outside this system, ie non-formal vocational training and adult education, in the workplace, regardless of whether it is provided by state institutions or non-governmental organizations. The amendments to the Law of 2014 introduce a system for validation of non-formal and informal learning, dual training and training in protected professions related to the development of the economy at regional level, as well as regulate the terms and conditions for accumulation and transfer of credits in vocational education and vocational training.

Higher Education Act

The Higher Education (HE) Act, (promulgated, State Gazette issue 112 of 27th December 1995), regulates the constitution, functions, management and financing of higher education in the Republic of Bulgaria. It defines the objective of higher education, namely to train specialists of high qualifications above the secondary school level and to develop science and culture. It states that the higher secular education is independent of ideologies, religions and political doctrines, and shall be provided in keeping with universal human values and national traditions. No privileges or restrictions shall be allowed in higher learning in connection with age, race, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, social background, political convictions or religious denomination, except for the cases expressly stated in a particular higher school's Rules of operations on grounds relating to certain peculiarities of the training process and the future profession. This act defines the functions of the state in the management of higher education, the types of higher schools, and their opening, transformation and closing. It introduces the principle of academic autonomy within the Bulgarian higher education system.

The HE Act regulates the structure and organisation of studies at higher schools, the procedures on awarding honorary titles, the organisation of research at higher schools, the admission of students, doctoral candidates and specialising trainees, the accreditation of higher education institutions, the issues related to property and financing.

Development of Academic Staff in the Republic of Bulgaria Act

The Development of Academic Staff in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, (promulgated, State Gazette issue 38 of 21st May 2010), regulates the social relations connected to academic degrees and academic posts in the Republic of Bulgaria. It defines the principles on which academic degrees shall be conferred and academic posts held, as follows:

• the autonomy of the higher education institutions, as well as decentralisation of the procedures related thereto which this Act regulates;
• free choice of academic development and impartial assessment thereof;
• guaranteeing the public interest, related to the quality of the educational process and scientific researches, by setting uniform state requirements and monitoring over their compliance, as well as controlling the quality of scientific research;
• international recognition, as well as exchange of experts and information in carrying out procedures, with a view to creating an integrated educational and research area.

The Act regulates the conferral of the higher education and academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy and of the academic degree of Doctor of Science.

Student and Doctoral-Candidate Loans Act

The Student and Doctoral-Candidate Loans Act, (promulgated, State Gazette issue 69 of 5th August 2008), regulates the terms and procedure for extending loans to students and doctoral candidates with state financial support. Its purpose is to improve the conditions for access to higher education. This Act is founded on the following principles:

• participation of students and doctoral candidates in the financing of their instruction;
• encouraging the competition between the higher schools for providing higher-quality higher education;
• guaranteeing persons equal access to higher education irrespective of their social status;
• cooperation between the State and the banks in connection with the extending of loans to students and doctoral candidates.

According to the Act, eligibility to apply for a loan shall be limited to students and doctoral candidates, who are Bulgarian citizens, citizens of another Member State of the European Union, of another state of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation, who at the time of submission of the request for conclusion of a loan contract meet simultaneously the following requirements:

• have not reached the age of 35 years;
• are studying full-time for acquisition of an educational and qualification degree of “Bachelor” (Bachelor or “Professional Bachelor in..”) or “Master” or of an educational and scientific degree of “Doctor” at a state or private higher education institution or scientific organization established and functioning in accordance with the provision of Article 47 (1) of the Higher Education Act. have not acquired the same educational and qualification or educational and academic degree;
• have not been suspended and have not interrupted their instruction, with the exception of the cases provided for in this Act; This Act defines the institutions in the student and doctoral-candidate loans scheme, the state financial support, and regulates the issues related to loan extension, absorption and repayment.

Scientific Research And Innovation Promotion Act

Scientific Research And Innovation Promotion Act (promulgated, State Gazette issue 39 of May 1, 2024) settles the principles and mechanisms of implementing the state policy of encouragement of scientific research and innovations in the Republic of Bulgaria. This Act states that the scientific research and the innovation are national priority and has a strategic importance for the development of the country. The state policy for promotion of scientific research and innovation shall be conducted by the Council of Ministers, by the Minister of Education and Science and by the Minister of Innovation and Growth. The Act underlines that scientific research and innovation activities, financed with public funds shall be based on the principles of freedom of implementation, equality (including between women and men), impartiality, partnership and compliance with generally accepted ethical standards at the national and European level and compliance with the personal data protection policy. The state policy for the promotion of scientific research and innovation activities shall cover the financial promotion of scientific research and innovation with public funds; the creation of conditions for the use of the scientific research and innovation potential and for their development in accordance with the priority directions for the development of the country;

the creation of conditions for the intellectual property protection, obtained on the basis of scientific results and knowledge and innovations; creating conditions for realization of the scientific knowledge, scientific results and innovation, as well as supporting their dissemination in all areas of public life; stimulation of international cooperation in the field of scientific research and innovation, participation in European and trans-European scientific programs and networks, as well as participation in the European research area and the creation of conditions for free access to the scientific research results, fully or partially financed with public funds, as well as an effective system for providing, storing, sharing and using scientific information in electronic form. 

The Council of Ministers:

1. adopt a National Strategy for the Development of Scientific Research;

2. adopt an Innovation Strategy for intelligent specialization;

3. adopt the Framework Program for Scientific Research and Innovation;

4. adopt a National Roadmap for Research Infrastructure;

5. adopt national programs in the field of science and in the field of innovation;

6. also adopt other strategic documents, with which it shall determine the goals and relevant measures and activities by the State for development of scientific research and innovation in accordance with the goals and priorities of the European research area, as well as with other community policies.

The Labour Code (promulgated, State Gazette issue 26 of 1st April 1986) sets out the ways in which the people in employment can receive vocational training. According to this Act, continuing vocational training may only be pursued with the agreement of both employer and employee.

Employment Promotion Act

The Employment Promotion Act (promulgated, State Gazette issue 112 of 29th December 2001) sets out the options for the funding of continuing education and training by employers, the recruitment of new staff and the creation of training placements.

Skilled Crafts Act

The Skilled Crafts Act (promulgated, State Gazette issue 42 of 27th April 2001) provides for the conditions and procedure for the exercise of a craft. It defines the craftsmanship organisation, and regulates the craft training.

Cultural Centers Act

The Cultural Centers Act (promulgated, SG 89 of 22 October 1996) imposes a partial responsibility on local authorities to maintain a cultural centre. This act regulates the organization, the management, the activity, the property, the financing, the maintenance and the termination of cultural centres, which are traditional self-governing Bulgarian cultural and educational associations in the settlements which also fulfill state cultural and educational tasks. Pursuing this act cultural centres performs activities related to providing access to information, incl. arrangement and maintenance of libraries, reading rooms, photographic, audiovisual, film and video, as well as creation and maintenance of electronic information networks; development and support of amateur artistic creativity; organization of schools, circuses, courses, clubs, movie and video shows, celebrations, concerts celebrations and youth activities; collecting and disseminating knowledge about the native language; creation and preservation of museum collections according to the Cultural Heritage Act; provision of computer and internet services, etc.

Recognition of Professional Qualifications Act

The Recognition of Professional Qualifications Act (promulgates, State Gazette issue 13 of 8th February 2008) regulates the terms and conditions for the recognition of professional qualifications, acquired in other Member States and in third states in view to access and exercise of regulated professions in the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as the terms and conditions for partial access to the exercise of a regulated profession and recognition of apprenticeship for mastering the profession in another Member State, as well as the rules for assessing proportionality before the introduction of new or amendment of existing provisions in a law, regulation or administrative act, which restrict the exercise or access to regulated professions. This law transposes Directive 2005/36/EC on recognition of professional qualifications in the Bulgarian legislation.

Legislation and Official Policy Documents

Ordinance on the State Requirements for the Acquisition of Higher Education for the Educational Qualification Degrees "Bachelor", "Master" and "Specialist" (adopted by Resolution No. 162 of the Council of Ministers of 23.07.2002, promulgated SG No. 76 of 6 August 2002) defines the state requirements for acquiring higher education for the educational qualification degrees "bachelor", "master" and "specialist in...". With changes in the Higher Education Act of 2007, the degree "specialist in..." was replaced by "professional bachelor in...".

Ordinance on State Requirements for the Content of Basic Documents Issued by Higher Education Institutions (promulgated in SG No. 75 of August 27, 2004) defines the state requirements for the content of basic documents for education and qualification issued by higher education institutions as follows:

1. a diploma for a completed educational and qualification degree of higher education "professional bachelor in...", "bachelor" or "master" and an application to it;

2. European diploma supplement;

3. certificate of professional qualification;

4. a certificate of a recognized specialty in the health care system after completing higher education;

5. certificate of successful completion of a preparatory course for specialized and language training in Bulgarian for foreigners - students, specialists and doctoral students;

6. certificate of professional-qualification degree;

7. certificate of professional-pedagogical specialization;

8. certificate of additional training or specialization.

Ordinance No. 21 of September 30, 2004 on the implementation of a system for the accumulation and transfer of credits in higher schools, issued by the Minister of Education and Science, promulgated SG no. 89 of October 12, 2004, in force since October 12, 2004) determines the conditions and procedure for applying a system for the accumulation and transfer of credits in higher schools.

Ordinance No. 2 of 13.11.2014 on the conditions and procedure for validation of professional knowledge, skills and competences (promulgated, State Gazette issue 96 of 21.11.2014, effective since 01.01.2015), issued by the Minister of Education and Science, determines the conditions and the order for validation of professional knowledge, skills and competences acquired through non-formal or informal learning.

Ordinance No. 1 of 8.09.2015 on the conditions and procedure for carrying out training through work (dual training), promulgated, State Gazette issue 70 of 11th September, 2015, issued by the Minister of Education and Science regulating the conditions and the order for carrying out the training through work (dual training) organized and carried out in accordance with the Law on Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Labor Code (LC).

Ordinance No. 4 of November 30, 2015 on the curriculum (effective from December 4, 2015) was issued by the Minister of Education and Science. It determines the state education

curriculum standard:

1. the characteristics, content and structure of the curriculum;

2. the framework curricula depending on the degree and type of education and the specifics and form of training;

3. the structure of school and individual study plans, as well as the terms and conditions for their approval;

4. the requirements to the school curricula of the innovative schools.

Ordinance No. 5 of 30.11.2015 on general education (promulgated, State Gazette issue 95 of 08.12.2015, effective since 08.12.2015), issued by the Minister of Education and Science, sets the state educational standard for the general education, as well as the curriculum structure of the general education subjects, the requirements for the integrative and new additional general education subjects in innovative schools and the study and examination programs for the state matriculation exams in general education subjects.

Ordinance No. 5 of 03.06.2016 on pre-primary education (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 46 of 17.06.2016, effective since 01.08.2016) issued by the Minister of Education and Science, defines the state educational standard for pre-school education as well as the organization of pre-school education activities, the requirements for the implementation of a program system and the mechanism of interaction between participants in the pre-school education process.

Ordinance No. 6 of 11.08.2016 on the adoption of the Bulgarian literary language (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 67 of 26.08.2016, effective since 01.09.2016), issued by the Minister of Education and Science, determines the state educational standard for the acquisition of the Bulgarian literary language in the system of pre-school and school education as well as the conditions and the order for the Bulgarian language to be used by children and pupils for whom the Bulgarian is not mother tongue and the study of Bulgarian language by the children of the Bulgarians abroad.

Ordinance No. 7 of 11.08.2016 on profiled training (promulgated in the State Gazette No. 67 of 26.08.2016, effective since 26.08.2016), issued by the Minister of Education and Science, sets the state educational standard for profiling, as well as the curriculum structure of the training subjects and the structure of the annual thematic distribution.

Ordinance No. 8 of 11.08.2016 on the information and documents for the system of pre-school and school education (promulgated, State Gazette issue 66 of 23.08.2016, effective since 23.08.2016) issued by the Minister of Education and Science sets the state educational standard for information and documents on the system of pre-school and school education.

Ordinance № 9 of 19.08.2016 on the institutions in the system of pre-school and school education issued by the Minister of Education and Science, (promulgated, State Gazette, no. 68 of 30.08.2016, effective since 30.08.2016), defines the state educational standard for institutions in the system of preschool and school education. It was updated in October 2020 in compliance with the changes in the Pre-School and School Education Act, concerning the requirements for the documentation for opening, transformation, change and closing of state or municipal institutions within the pre-school and school system and also presenting additional regulations for defining schools as “innovative”.

Ordinance № 10/2016 on the organization of activities in school education (promulgated, SG No. 73 of 16.09.2016, in force from 01.09.2016) determines the state educational standard for the organization of activities in school education. It was updated in October 2020 in compliance with the changes in the Pre-School and School Education Act, concerning the distant on-line teaching, established in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

Ordinance No. 11 of 01.09.2016 on evaluation of students’ learning outcomes (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 74 of 20.09.2016, effective since 20.09.2016,), issued by the Minister of Education and Science, determines the state educational standard for evaluation of the learning outcomes of the students under Art. 22, para. 2, item 9 of the Preschool and School Education Act.

Ordinance No. 13 of 21.09.2016 on the Civic, Health, Environmental and Intercultural Education (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 80 of 11.10.2016, effective since 11.10.2016), issued by the Minister of Education and Science , defines the state educational standard for civic, health, environmental and intercultural education.

Ordinance on the State Requirements for Acquiring the Professional Qualification of a Teacher (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 89 of 11.11.2016, effective since 2017/2018 academic year, adopted by Decree of the Council of Ministers No 289 of 07.11.2016) defines the state requirements for acquiring a professional qualification of a teacher.

Ordinance No. 3 of 06.04.2017 on the conditions and procedure for admission and training of persons seeking or having received international protection (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 32 of 21.04.2017, effective since 21.04.2017), issued by the Minister of Education and Science, determines the conditions and the order for the admission and training of persons seeking or having obtained international protection when they do not have a document for a completed class, stage or level of education.

Ordinance on the Financing of Institutions in the System of Preschool and School Education, adopted by Council of Ministers’ Decree No. 219 of 05.09.2017, promulgated SG No. 81 of October 10, 2017 defines the state educational standard for the financing of institutions, as well as:

  1. the conditions and order for determining the number of classes and groups and the number of students and children in them, as well as for organizing individual training of a student from a class;

2. the conditions and procedure for providing training in the Bulgarian language;

3. the rules for allocating funds for work with children and students from vulnerable groups;

4. the procedure for including private kindergartens and schools in the state funding system;

5. admission of children and students for free education in private kindergartens and schools included in the system of state funding;

6. the methodology for determining the maximum amount for the funds collected from parents of children and students from private kindergartens and schools;

7. the conditions and order for the recovery of the unspent funds from the state subsidy from the private kindergartens and schools included in the system of state financing;

8. the conditions and procedure for suspending the provision of funds from the state budget to private kindergartens and schools included in the system of state funding.

Ordinance on inclusive education (promulgated, State Gazette issue 86 of 27.10.2017, effective since 27.10.2017) adopted by Council of Ministers’ Decree No 232 of 20.10.2017 defines the state educational standard for inclusive education. The Ordinance regulates the public relations related to provision of inclusive education for children and students in the system of pre-school and school education as well as the activities of the institutions in this system to provide support for the personal development of children and students.

Ordinance No. 15 of 22.07.2019 on the status and professional development of teachers, school heads and other pedagogical specialists (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 61 of 02.08.2019), issued by the Minister of Education and Science, defines the state education standard for the status and professional development of teachers, school heads and other pedagogical specialists within the pre-school and school system. There are set prerequisites for enhancing the recognition and social status of the pedagogical specialists, building of system for continuous qualification, for professional improvement and career development. 

Ordinance № 1 of 19.02.2020 on the organization and holding exams for acquiring professional qualification (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 18 of 28.02.2020), issued by the Minister of Education and Science, defines the organization and holding exams for acquiring professional qualification based on Vocational education and Training Act, as well the system for evaluation of the exam results. 

Ordinance on the state requirements for the organization of distance learning in higher education institutions, adopted by Council of Ministers’ Decree № 78 of 05.03.2021, promulgated, State Gazette, issue 21 of 12th March 2021 regulates the state requirements for the organization of distance learning in higher education institutions on the Republic of Bulgaria.

Ordinance No. 23 of 27.08.2020 on defining state universities rectors’ remuneration rate set in their contracts for governance signed with the Minister of Education and Science (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 78 of 04.09.2020) issued by the Minister of Education and Science, defines establishments of rules that are valid for all state universities and based on them to be defined the remuneration rate of their rectors. As additional stimulus is adopted mechanism for this bonus that depends on their performance to reach the goals, tasks and indicators set in the contract.

Ordinance No. 24 of 10.09.2020 on physical environment and information and library provision to the kindergartens, schools and Centers for personal development support (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 84 of 29.09.2020), issued by the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Health care, defines the state education standard for physical environment and information and library provision together with the minimum and obligatory rules and norms that the architectural and work environment should meet, necessary for the effective study process at the kindergartens, schools and  Centers for personal development support.

Ordinance No. 18 of September 9, 2021 on Inspection of Kindergartens and Schools, issued by the Minister of Education and Science (promulgated SG No. 77 of September 16, 2021) defines the nature, objectives and organization of the inspection of kindergartens kindergartens and schools. It defines inspection as a process of preparing a complete independent expert assessment of the quality of the education provided by the kindergarten or school at a certain point in their activity and determining the guidelines for improvement.

Ordinance No. 16 of July 1, 2022 on conducting competitions for the position of "director" in state and municipal institutions in the system of preschool and school education (promulgated State Gazette, issue 52 of July 5, 2022) determines the conditions and procedure for conducting competitions for the position of "director" of state and municipal kindergartens, schools and personal development support centers, as well as state specialized service units. The purpose of the regulation is to guarantee a transparent competition procedure, built on the principle of competition based on the professional and business qualities of the candidates.