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1. Innovation in formal education

2. Fostering innovation through non-formal and informal learning and youth work

Innovation in formal education

Since 2017, all schools in the country (state, municipal and private) can apply for the status of "innovative school". Schools apply to the Ministry of Education and Science with projects in which they describe their innovations. Innovative schools are schools that achieve improvement in the quality of education, such as:

• Developing and introducing innovative elements regarding the organization and/or content of training;
• Organizing the management, training and educational environment in a new or innovative way;
• Using new teaching methods;
• Developing educational content, curricula and study plans in a new way.

The innovative process in school innovation projects lasts up to 4 years and may involve all or part of the participants in the educational process at the school. A commission at the Ministry of Education and Science carries out monitoring of school innovation projects and analysis to evaluate the progress of innovative schools. There are 542 innovative schools operating in Bulgaria from all 28 regions of the country.

Fostering innovation through non-formal and informal learning and youth work

According to the School and Preschool Education Act (Закон за предучилищното и училищното образование) (effective from 01.08.2016, last amendment and supplement of 18 September 2020) innovative schools are schools that achieve improvement of the quality of education by:

• developing and implementing innovative elements in terms of organization and/or content of education;
• organise the management, education and school environment in a new or improved way;
• use new teaching methods;
• develop education content, programs and curricula in a new way.

The government grants BGN 20 million (about EUR 10 million) for the National Program “Establishment of STEM School Environment” (Национална програма „Изграждане на училищна STEM среда“). The funds are used for establishment and equipment of advanced centers at schools that develop innovations in the field of natural sciences, digital technologies, engineering and mathematics. 113 state and municipal schools will receive grants under this program in 2021. In 2020 the funds were allocated among 153 schools. The STEM centers are a learning model that facilitates mathematics and natural sciences training.