The academic community demands the removal of homeopathic education in vocational high schools.

The Assembly of Academicians and Corresponding Members of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) has addressed a letter-petition to the Minister of Education and Science, Krasimir Valchev, requesting the termination of homeopathy education in vocational high schools. This is not the first case where scientists have insisted on stopping the teaching of homeopathy - a year ago they already requested the cessation of all forms of education on this topic in universities.

In its letter, BAS notes that in several vocational high schools and in one Vocational Training Center, training is provided in the specialty "Technology of Homeopathic and Phytoproducts", which includes the subject "Technology of Homeopathic Products". The scientists define this as "deeply outrageous and shameful for our secondary education", as the list of recommended literature for the state exams in this discipline contains mainly "anti-scientific homeopathic literature, aimed only at the propaganda and advertising of self-treatment through homeopathy".

The Academicians emphasize that in the modern world it is "unacceptable" for young people to be trained in a "false 'theory' and false practice that arose in the 18th century, such as the pseudoscience of homeopathy". They point out that numerous scientific studies from Europe, America, and Australia prove that homeopathic preparations have no healing effect beyond the placebo effect.

The scientists recall that over the past two years, under the influence of petitions against the teaching of homeopathy, the education on this topic has been discontinued at the Medical University-Sofia, the Medical University-Plovdiv, and the Medical University-Pleven. They note that more and more countries in the world, such as France and Spain, are taking measures to limit homeopathic practices and the sale of homeopathic products as medicinal products.

In conclusion, BAS calls on the Minister of Education and Science to take the necessary legal and procedural actions to remove the training in "Technology of Homeopathic Products" from the programs for the preparation of "Chemical Technologist" in vocational high schools and vocational education centers.