The Education Ministry has a draft programme ready to teach teachers how to work with artificial intelligence in schools. The ministry is looking for money to pay for the training, including from EU funds, Education Minister Prof. Georgi Valchev told parliament. He hopes the courses will start soon.

The minister was answering a question from Krasimir Valchev of GERB-SDS, who is also a former education minister. The MP asked whether such a programme exists and whether it will be carried out.

Prof. Valchev said that after taking office he asked for information on the ministry's current and priority tasks. In his view, the concept published on the ministry's website has been carried out.

Draft changes to the state education standards for general education and to the curricula are out for public consultation. They aim to make sure pupils know about AI and can use it. A draft national framework for AI literacy is also ready. It should build on pupils' knowledge and skills step by step, returning to topics at a higher level each time.

Krasimir Valchev said all this was prepared under the previous ministry leadership. He said that in 2025 the ministry and respected experts drew up a vision for bringing AI into Bulgarian schools. They also wrote the draft national programme for teacher training and the additions to the curricula with AI topics at that time.

Prof. Georgi Valchev said he had met everyone who has worked on the concept so far. He confirmed that the ministry will work actively on the subject.

He said the ministry recognises the place of AI in society today. But bringing it into schools needs in-depth analysis, a legal and ethical framework, and broad agreement among the public and experts, he said. A balance must be found between children's basic skills and critical thinking, and the help AI gives to teachers and pupils.

"Surveys show that a large share of teachers and pupils use AI, but not in the best way," Prof. Valchev said. He said teachers must lead the learning process, which is why the ministry plans to train them.

"Artificial intelligence can become an extremely strong ally of education policy," the minister said. He said effective AI policies need joint efforts across all sectors.

Prof. Valchev believes international experience clearly shows that when AI is only partly regulated or not regulated at all, the rules in place are not followed and vulnerable groups face risks.

A similar process is under way at universities, and the minister said it is needed because the technology is developing fast.