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President Plevneliev: The realization of the individual must become a national cause

The realization of long-term priorities in education and science should lead to the creation of a new middle class capable of adaptation, which meets the needs of the national economy. This was said by President Rosen Plevneliev, who opened at 2 Dondoukov Boulevard the first meeting of the Council on Education and Science. The realization of the potential of the individual must become a national cause, the President told participants in the Council meeting, adding that in Bulgarian society there is consensus on this issue. Participants at the meeting included Vice President Margarita Popova, Minister of Education and Science Sergey Ignatov, Minister for the Management of EU Funds Tomislav Donchev, Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Delyan Dobrev, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on education Ognyan Stoichkov, along with representatives of parliamentary political forces, of employers and trade unions and NGOs.

A new middle class - adaptable, flexible, tech-savvy - will be on the agenda not only in Bulgaria, but in all societies, and the educational system is the mechanism that shapes the necessary skills, the President said. He said that among the problems to which the Bulgaria 2020 long-term development programme must find solutions is that young people in Bulgaria are among the latest in Europe to emerge on to the labour market. The main reason is that they have no experience in the real economy. In Bulgaria, the share of young entrepreneurs aged between 15 and 24 is far below the average European level. The situation in Bulgaria regarding self-employed people aged between 25 and 29 years is similar, President Plevneliev said.

The state should ensure the sustainability of the interaction between business, education and government, President Plevneliev said. He said that opportunities for active interaction between businesses, research centres and universities in the state are key. An appropriate legislative framework, adequate educational infrastructure, adapted methodologies for evaluating the results of the education system and investments in human capital, which have proven returns, are all essential. Bulgaria already has a base that can be successfully upgraded, President Plevneliev told the Council meeting.

During the discussion, the idea was raised that the programming of EU funds for the next programming period for Bulgaria should provide for the establishment of a separate operational programme for science and education. Bulgaria is the only country so far with no agreed funding for science and research, Minister Sergei Ignatov said.

Participants in the Council meeting agreed on the need for close engagement of higher and secondary vocational education with the needs of the economy and the labour market. It is essential to develop effective mechanisms for interaction between business and educational institutions to improve conditions for young people to acquire practical experience. The main problem highlighted during the discussion was access to educational services in smaller settlements and the optimization of the system of preschool and school education.

Address by President Rosen Plevneliev to the Council on Education and Science, on the theme ‘Bulgaria 2020 - National Priorities in Education’