2026

No reforms have been implemented this year.

2025

By Decision No. 831 of December 4, 2024, the Council of Ministers adopted the National Scientific Program "Development of Scientific Research and Innovations in the System of Bulgarian Preschool and School Education". The goal is to provide an opportunity to improve the efficiency of the education system through scientifically based innovations. The program is aimed at developing and implementing new management models, pedagogical practices and digital technologies that will increase the quality of education and ensure better preparation of students for the future. The main goal of the Program is to conduct in-depth scientific research on topics related to priorities in the system of preschool and school education to overcome negative trends and improve the efficiency of education, including through the development and introduction of innovations. A wide range of research pedagogical, psychological and statistical methods will be applied to specify critical and problem areas of Bulgarian preschool and school education.

By Decision No. 837 of December 6, 2024, the funding period under the Program for the Construction, Extension, Upgrade and Reconstruction of Nurseries, Kindergartens and Schools 2020 - 2022 was extended by one more year, with the funds provided from the state budget for 2025.

An Action Plan for the period 2025-2027 has been adopted to the Strategic Framework for the Development of Education, Training and Learning in the Republic of Bulgaria (2021-2030). A goal has been set for the share of children aged 4 to first grade covered in preschool education and training to be 90% by the end of 2027. The necessary funds have been provided for the provision of free use of educational books for children for whom preschool education is mandatory and for the provision of free transportation for children of mandatory preschool age and for students. Activities are planned to promote a positive attitude towards diversity in all areas of human life and improve intercultural communication for learning in a multicultural educational environment. 

The emphasis is on engaging parents and other family members in the process of covering and including children and students in the system of preschool and school education and increasing the educational potential of the family through the National Program "Together for Every Child". It is planned to improve the inclusive nature of preschool education with a focus on children from vulnerable groups, including Roma, to reduce the number of children who are not covered and who have dropped out of education at compulsory preschool age; increased capacity of institutions in the system of preschool education for implementing inclusive education; established a supportive community to form positive attitudes and motivation of parents towards education for the full inclusion of their children in preschool education. Measures are envisaged to support the development of specialists in the system of preschool and school education.

By Decision No. 74 of the Council of Ministers of 13.02.2025, a List of Central Kindergartens and Schools in the Republic of Bulgaria for the 2024/2025 academic year was adopted.

By Decision No. 64 of 12 February 2025, a List of Protected Kindergartens and Protected Schools in the Republic of Bulgaria was adopted.

2024

In the March-September period an amendment to the Pre-school and School Education Act entered into force. It was prohibited carrying out propaganda, promoting or incite ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or determination of gender identity other than biological.

With changes in Ordinance 5 of 03.06.2016 for Preschool Education, the permissible period for children's absences for domestic reasons was increased from 10 to 15 days per school year.

With the Ordinance on Inclusive Education, the ways of assessing the individual needs of children have been changed. The means for providing a specialized supportive environment and accessibility of information and communication for children with specific learning disabilities have also been supplemented. Kindergartens must provide, if necessary, technical means and software supporting the education of children with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.

With the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 260 of April 4, 2024, an Annual Plan for the Promotion of Early Childhood Development for 2024 was adopted. Its development is part of the activities included in the work of the permanent Interdepartmental Working Group for Planning and Coordination of Early Childhood Policies development, formed by Order of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria. The purpose of the Plan is to promote early childhood development by providing access to social, educational, health and integrated services, with the aim of reducing the negative trends in child poverty and increasing the quality of life of children at an early age. The Plan is structured in 5 areas of impact, which are based on international good practices, including the areas outlined in the Whole Care Framework of WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank, the European Framework for High-Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Services, as well as on the needs of the Bulgarian national context. The areas are:

• Health and nutrition

• Early learning, education and early childhood care

• Child protection, security and safety

• Social protection and parenting support

• Early childhood intervention – for the needs of supporting the development of children at an early age who have difficulties in various areas of development (physical, cognitive, social, emotional, etc.) or have a diagnosed condition in which there is a high probability of got developmental delay.

The Plan envisages the development of standards for early childhood development. Part of the Plan's activities are related to helping parents to provide opportunities for early learning and a home environment that stimulates child development. Active work with parents is planned to change their attitudes towards education and to form their motivation to actively include their children in the preschool education system. Effective early education programs for children from small towns and marginalized communities will be provided. Activities are also planned to increase access to education and the participation of children with SEN by introducing means for complementary and alternative communication in the education system. It is planned to launch a one-year continuing qualification of non-pedagogical specialists in kindergartens. There will also be some legislative changes regarding the ratio of children to teachers and non-teaching staff.

Changes were made to the Inclusive Education Act during this period. Children or students who benefit from pedagogical and psychological support, including activities for the prevention of violence and overcoming problem behavior from a personal development support center, are given the opportunity to have such activity provided by other services, including by social services under the Social Assistance Act and the regulations for its implementation. Children or students who are provided with additional support for psycho-social rehabilitation, hearing and speech rehabilitation, visual rehabilitation, rehabilitation of communication disorders and for physical disabilities from an institution in the system of preschool and school education can now be provided with such activity in other services, including in social services under the under the Social Assistance Act and the regulations for its implementation.

The implementation of the Action Plan for the Strategic Framework for the Development of Education, Training and Learning in the Republic of Bulgaria until 2024 (2021 – 2030) continues to ensure places in kindergartens, training of pedagogical specialists, inter-institutional mechanism for monitoring the quality of education and care in early childhood, modernization of the material base, creation of regulatory conditions for the functioning of innovative kindergartens.

Changes in the Ordinance on the financing of institutions in the system of preschool and school education provide for a longer period for removing inconsistencies of the submitted documents for inclusion in the system of state financing of private kindergartens and schools with the regulatory requirements. The method of calculating the funds granted by the state in the presence of fewer children in a group than the standard for an educational institution has also been changed. It is envisaged that private kindergartens and schools submit to the Ministry of Education and Science information on the planned funds and incurred expenses, certifying their division, as well as on the number of appointed pedagogical specialists and accepted children/students who are educated without payment, under the form of sample references and the deadlines for this have been determined.

Decisions of the Council of Ministers

 Decision No. 103 of 15.02.2024 of the Council of Ministers has updated the programs for expansion and improvement of the building fund and the material base in the education system for the period 2024-2026. The period for implementation and financing of the program for construction, extension , upgrading and reconstruction of nurseries, kindergartens and schools is extended by one year.

By Resolution No. 20 of February 7, 2024 of the Council of Ministers, additional transfers were approved under the municipal budgets for 2024 to compensate the expenses incurred by the parents for the period from November 1 to December 31, 2023 for the upbringing and education of the children, who are not admitted to state or municipal kindergartens or schools due to a lack of available places.

With Decision No. 23 of 22.01.2024, the Council of Ministers adopted a list of protected kindergartens and protected schools in the Republic of Bulgaria, which includes 264 schools and kindergartens.