The Minister of Education for the immediate and medium-term tasks before the Ministry of Education and Science and the education system

By the end of the calendar year, the Ministry of Education and Science will purchase and provide 45,000 laptops and tablets to schools with students without ORES devices, so that each student is provided with the minimum in case of new distance learning. This was stated by Minister Denkov at a meeting with the principals at the annual meeting of the principals of the professional principals’ community for intercultural education “Every student will be an excellent student”. The meeting was organized by the Amalipe Center on July 22-24 in Varna, and was attended by over 150 directors. Minister Denkov also presented the short-term priorities of the Ministry of Education and Science for the beginning of the new school year, as well as medium-term tasks for the Ministry and the education system.

“If I have to point out the number one problem of the education system that principals have to deal with is the inclusion of children, the retention of children in the education system, their inclusion and the opportunity for them to receive quality education in the conditions in which they find themselves. “, Said Minister Denkov. He pointed out the short-term tasks that the Ministry of Education and Science is currently working on.
Task number one is to start the school year in person, with the largest possible number of vaccinated teachers. The priority of the ministry is awareness of vaccination and increasing the number of vaccinated teachers.
An equally important task is to provide the necessary conditions for the participation of all students in the ORES. To this end, we have identified that about 45,000 devices are currently needed. The Ministry of Education and Science will purchase and provide this number of devices to schools by October 15, by the end of the calendar year at the latest. The equipment will be provided in those schools where there are students without one. It will be of two types – laptops with relatively high performance and tablets or chromebooks.
The Ministry of Education and Science also plans to encourage the conduct of qualifications with teachers who have certain deficits in the conduct of the ESR.
Minister Denkov also spoke about the medium-term priorities that, in his opinion, the ministry should achieve in the next 2-3 years. He emphasized that he would share his views with the next Minister of Education and hoped that there would be continuity on these priorities:
  1. Depoliticization of the educational system: It is inadmissible for RWBs and school principals to be engaged in party-political activity, performing their official duties;
  2. Inclusion of a component for the quality of education in the formation of the school budget, in the form of an allowance: Minister Denkov explained in detail that the Ministry of Education and Science has developed a pilot system for assessing the quality of education. It is complex, based on several key indicators and takes into account the level of education of parents, environmental factors and its impact on children. A special mathematical formula has been created, which reflects the added value of quality for each school in the educational development of students. Schools that teach children from families with low education, problems with the Bulgarian language and other unfavorable factors should not worry that they will be at a disadvantage. On the contrary, the added value they give to each child will be taken into account.

The introduction of such a system can occur for a long period within 6 to 12 months. This will be a decision of the new leadership of the Ministry of Education and Science.

3. Digitalization: it must be understood beyond the provision of devices and the Internet. Digitalization includes this, but also conducting personalized training for students. How will they be secured?

– Option 1: providing more teachers in larger classes so that one teacher can work with a maximum of 10 children

– Option 2: Introduction of artificial intelligence to support the teacher’s work in terms of identifying the needs of each child and selecting materials for individual work.

4. It is very important to activate the scope mechanism. It “broke” last year. In previous years, police officers, social workers and other professionals worked with teachers to search for and return missing students. After the pandemic, educators and educational mediators were left alone in this effort. We need to look for answers to the questions together and hear the point of view of the community.

5. The qualification of teachers must be increased in order to be able to take children to another technological level – applying modern teaching methods and application of STEM centers.

6. Reducing professional burnout and stress by introducing specialists to support the work of teachers.

Minister Denkov thanked for the work of the schools from the network “Every student will be an excellent student” and the Amalipe Center. He emphasized that the interaction of schools in networks and the partnership with non – governmental organizations that actually work in the field is a prerequisite for the more successful work of all.

Directors had the opportunity to ask many questions through the Menti.com system

Answering the question about how the new school year will start and whether it will take place in person or online, Prof. Denkov stressed that about the presence / absence in the classrooms. “No one can say or predict what will happen. Given the situation in the world and Europe, it is possible that everyone will move to the BSEC. The position of the Ministry of Education and Science is that we must ensure the maximum possible presence of students in school…. We plan to attend the school year in person, but we are also preparing for absenteeism. ”

The Minister categorically does not support the elimination of HBO for 4th and 10th grade. Conducting external evaluation is very important for measuring the quality of education in the school itself. “It is possible to discuss the possibility of changing the form of the conduct itself, in order to minimize stress and make it as gentle as possible for children.”

More information about the national meeting of the professional directors’ community is expected soon on amalipe.bg