On the Day of the National Enlighteners, the country marked another anniversary of the day of education. At this symbolic moment, the Minister of Education, Krasimir Valchev, confirmed important news for the sector. In an interview for the television channel "Nova TV", the program "Wake Up", he revealed plans for upcoming changes and challenges in the education system.
The main focus of the minister's statement was the upcoming increase in funds for education. "Yes, there will be an increase in funds. Additional funds will be provided, including for increasing salaries", said Valchev. He clarified that the specific parameters of this increase are still subject to discussion with the unions and school principals. It is important to note that the main goal remains for teachers' salaries not to lag behind the national average, following the policy of being 125% of it.
The Minister also touched upon one of the most serious problems facing the education system - the shortage of staff. According to him, this problem is not so much territorial as it is subject-specific. "The shortage is by subject, especially in mathematics, physics, chemistry, information technology", explained Valchev. In this regard, he pointed out that for the first time in 10 years, the admission to the specialty "Pedagogy" for preschool and primary teachers has been reduced, as there are already enough staff there, as well as for teachers of physical education and fine arts. He also stressed that the problem with the shortage of teachers of natural sciences is a projection of the demotivation of students to study these disciplines. The air in the studio seemed to thicken as the Minister explained the depth of the problem.
Another significant topic addressed in the interview was the restriction of the use of mobile phones in classrooms. Minister Valchev stressed that such a measure already exists in many schools, where students leave their devices at the entrance to the classroom. In this regard, he stressed that what is more important is the restriction of screen time outside of school. The television studio seemed to fill with the silence of the students who had left their phones, awaiting the start of the school hour.