Forthcoming policy developments

Main conceptual proposals for reforms in vocational education and training are:

• change in the Vocational Education and Training Act to ensure better matching of education with the skills needed in the labor market;
• change in the List of professions for professional education and training by optimizing the qualifications;
• development and introduction of a sectoral approach in preparing the study documentation by the same extended teams;
• state educational standards, standard curricula and national examination programs;
• reforms related to skills, including digital ones, to provide modern educational environment and turning vocational high schools into centers for skills development.
• A reform for a common policy for the development of scientific research and innovation is forthcoming. It envisages the preparation and entry into force of a new law on scientific research and innovation. The aim is to encourage and support active cooperation between higher education institutions and the private sector for the benefit of economic growth and general socio-economic development.

Ongoing debates

In May 2020, the National Youth Forum (NYF) (Национален младежки форум) – the biggest youth platform in Bulgaria with more than 50 member organisations countrywide, sent the Minister of Education and Science an open letter on the role of non-formal learning and youth organisations in the achievement of learning results. With this letter, NYF and another 11 youth NGOs – members of NYF, working with non-formal learning methods, expressed their readiness to help for overcoming the consequences of the changes and measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With their letter, the authors of the letter called for:

• Recognition of youth organisations and youth work as key providers of trainings in the field of non-formal learning – proven method for personal development and acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences;

• Involvement of youth organisations and all nongovernmental organisations and youth workers active in the field of non-formal learning, for the purposes of facilitating the process of overcoming the challenges in the education system through consultations and provision of innovative methods from long-term practice with young people;

• Development and application of standards in the education system on formal and non-formal trainings for acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences, together with representatives of nongovernmental organisations working the field;

• Recognition of the Council of Europe’s standards on non-formal learning for the purposes of ensuring adequate and quality environment and infrastructure for the effectiveness of the education system, especially in the current Covid-19-related situation.