January 23, 2026February 6, 2026

Educational mediators – the bridge that brings children back to school

Educational mediators play a key role in re-enrolling and retaining children in school and in building trust between schools and parents. This was emphasized by the Minister of Education and Science, Krasimir Valchev, during the “Mediator of the Year” award ceremony, held at the Ministry of Education and Science on January 14. The event was attended by Deputy Ministers Natalia Mihalevska and Emilia Lazarova, more than 30 educational mediators, school principals and students, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science.

The competition was organized for the fifth consecutive year by the Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe” and the National Network of Educational Mediators. The awards recognized proven professionals who work daily with children and families.

“The inclusion of educational mediators has ensured the sustainability of the Mechanism for Enrolment and Retention of Students. Thanks to this work, nearly 116,000 children have been brought back to classrooms, and about 75,000 of them have remained permanently in the education system,” Minister Valchev noted. According to him, for the first time the share of early school leavers has dropped to around 9%, below the EU average.

The Minister also recalled that regulatory amendments have secured earmarked funding for the salaries of educational mediators in all schools and kindergartens, expressing hope that future budgets will provide additional funding for their activities.

In his address, Deyan Kolev, Chair of Amalipe, also cited data from the National Statistical Institute and Eurostat, according to which early school leavers in Bulgaria are below 9%, compared to an EU average of 9.5%. He stressed the exceptional contribution of educational mediators, who work daily with the families of absent students. Kolev thanked Minister Valchev for the political support for full inclusion and the desegregation of Roma schools, noting that in May the Ministry proposed meaningful amendments to the Pre-school and School Education Act (PSEA) that would accelerate desegregation policies. Unfortunately, subsequent proposals by members of parliament significantly diluted these texts. Minister Valchev assured that, if the amendments to the PSEA are adopted, the texts will be corrected.

Support for the work of mediators was also expressed by Thomas Stauffer, Head of the Swiss Cooperation Office, who highlighted their importance for children’s future social and professional development. The participants were also welcomed by Atanas Atanasov, Chair of the National Network of Educational Mediators.

Mediators of the Year

Main Awards

Women’s Category: Fatme Huseinova – Traiko Simeonov Secondary School, Shumen
Men’s Category: Angel Iliev – Captain Petko Parmakov Primary School, the village of Gradets

Both awardees are long-standing educational mediators with extensive field experience and a significant contribution to keeping students within the education system.

Special Awards

“Work with Parents and Community” Award: Ivan Georgiev Bratanovski – Elisaveta Bagrayana Vocational High School, Byala Slatina
“Initiatives and Community Engagement” Award: Fatme Hiusnyueva Ahmed – St. St. Cyril and Methodius Primary School, the village of Byala Reka
“Young Mediator / Debut” Award: Nancy Asenova Naneva – St. St. Cyril and Methodius Primary School, Topolovgrad
“Motivator of Parents and Students” Award: Fatme Shamsieva Nasufova – Panayot Volov Primary School, the village of Todor Ikonomovo
“Significant Contribution to the Prevention of School Dropout” Award: Adriana Alchinova Arifova – Sergey Rumyantsev Vocational High School of Agriculture, Lukovit
“Contribution and Innovation in the Work of an Educational Mediator” Award: Emilia Encheva – Yordan Yovkov Secondary School, Tutrakan
“Commitment, Responsibility, and Humanity” Award: Lyubka Georgieva Dacheva – Vasil Levski Primary School, the village of Trivoditsi

The event concluded with a festive ethno-cultural programme on the occasion of Vasilitsa, presented by students from Traiko Simeonov Secondary School in Shumen.