Burgas council says mayor Dimitar Nikolov honoured 120 young teachers for a good start in the job, not 115 as first reported.
Nikolov gave out the awards in person at a ceremony in the Central Park for National Revivalists' Day. He also welcomed the newly hired teachers.
Earlier report: Burgas mayor awards 115 young teachers for their first steps in the profession
Last year, 105 young teachers started work in Burgas. This year the number is higher. Those honoured work in 10 kindergartens, 16 primary schools, 9 secondary schools, 7 vocational high schools and 6 specialised high schools.
The mayor said the ceremony shows how much Burgas values both the work of young teachers and their wish to enter the profession. Teaching is the most valuable profession for the city, he said, because "there is no more precious quality than the teaching and education of our young fellow citizens". Nikolov tied their work to the future of Burgas and said it is an honour and a privilege for him to welcome them.
"From now on I want to say as mayor that I count on you!" Nikolov told the teachers.
Poet Yana Valcheva hosted the ceremony. Guests included Mihail Hadzhiyanev, chair of the municipal council, and Katya Misheva of the council's education department. Prof Milen Baltov, rector of Burgas Free University, and Prof Sevdalina Turmanova, deputy rector of Burgas State University, also attended.
Some of the winners spoke about how they came to teaching. A teacher of Bulgarian language and history said working in a classroom is a childhood dream come true. A young teacher of computer modelling and information technology said his interest in education came later in his career.
The winners said a young teacher needs patience, persistence and inspiration most. They urged colleagues to stay open to new ideas and to draw motivation from their students and from a changing world.
Burgas council had said earlier that mayor Dimitar Nikolov would honour 115 young teachers at a ceremony on Friday, 6 November. That announcement said all of them started work this year in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and specialised and vocational high schools.
By tradition, new teachers get mentors who help them with their first steps and share their experience. The mentors themselves take special training under the council's "Young Teachers" programme. The council has honoured young teachers for 11 years.