The number of students being directed into specific schools for health reasons has jumped by nearly 52% compared to the last school year, prompting demands from "Vazrazhdane" to the Ministry of Education and Science. Member of Parliament Angel Yanchev delivered a declaration from the parliamentary rostrum, insisting on an investigation into this year's admissions and the restoration of the mandatory national list for directing students with chronic illnesses.

Statistics show that for the upcoming 2026/2027 school year, there are 311 such students in the country, compared to a total of 205 during the 2025/2026 school year. A similar trend is observed in the capital, where the number jumped from 44 to 95, representing a nearly 116% increase. The MP emphasized that over the past six years, the total number nationwide has fluctuated between 159 and 218 students, and the current spike to 311 requires a serious explanation. According to him, these figures indicate abuse, and the Ministry of Education must immediately close the portal for "nepotistic enrollments."

The problem stems from legislative changes – on June 20, 2025, Article 10 of Ordinance 10 on the organization of activities in school education was repealed. Prior to this, such directing was carried out through lists approved by the Minister of Health and coordinated with the Minister of Education. Currently, commissions within the regional education departments are operating without the application of such mandatory disease lists, even though the general criteria in the ordinance remain in force.

The directing process is currently managed by commissions within the regional education departments, which review documents, the severity of the condition, grades from the first school term in core subjects, and the students' stated preferences. It is important to note that the results of the national external assessment are not part of this directing process, and these students do not take up additional spots, but rather spots from the approved state admission plan.

As examples of diagnoses that serve as a basis for directing students into language, mathematics, or science profiles, Angel Yanchev cited:

• scoliosis;
• asthma;
• diabetes;
• epilepsy.

The MP clarified that these children do not fall into the category of students with special educational needs, for whom a separate procedure exists.

Changes in the rules for admitting students for health reasons will be significant for families and schools throughout the Burgas region.

According to him, the list of chronic illnesses must be medically justified, up-to-date, and account for not only the names of the diseases but also the severity of their limitations. Angel Yanchev stated that while children with disabilities and chronic illnesses have the right to a quality education, including in the best high schools, any deviation from the general competitive procedure must be controlled and clearly justified, as the state is obliged to help them, but without violating the rules.