How Can Quality Education Become a Reality Rather Than Just a Dream? Experts Discuss the Issue in Kardzhali
It is important to encourage students finishing secondary school to choose university subjects that genuinely interest them. Given the demographic challenges facing Bulgaria, which we are all aware of, it is becoming increasingly important to give every young person the chance to shape their own future and fulfil their dreams here in Bulgaria. In the 21st century, this can only happen through good education. Otherwise, we will continue to see nothing but worrying demographic statistics. But that is not what we want for ourselves, our children or our country. These were the words of Svetla Zhelyazkova, Director of NEA GERMANIKA Language Centre, who opened the first broad discussion of its kind, entitled “Education in the 21st Century”, at the Business Incubator in Kardzhali. As the Nov Zhivot newspaper has reported several times, the language centre is a main organiser of the forum, which brings together teachers, school principals, parents, employers, businesses, and speakers from universities and companies with a modern outlook on education.
Zhelyazkova said that her ideas could only become reality through the joint efforts of all organisations. Bulgaria must stand united. As a foreign language teacher, she quoted Martin Luther King’s famous words, “I have a dream.” “I, too, have a dream. And that is that, one day, people will talk about our education system in the same way they talk about the Finnish, German or American systems today…” Zhelyazkova said.
Deputy Regional Governor Sevda Kamburova welcomed the initiative and thanked the organisers for inviting her to take part. On her own behalf and on behalf of the Regional Governor, she wished the forum every success. “I welcome the idea of bringing together all stakeholders in the education system around one common cause: quality education. It must keep pace with change and meet the new challenges of the 21st century, while ensuring that young people can build successful futures. Forums like this are essential not only for taking stock of where we stand, but also for exchanging ideas and sharing positive experiences. It is very important for our society to learn about innovative practices in our schools,” Kamburova said.
After the conference was opened, short video messages were shown on a large screen from Regional Governor Nikola Chanev; Svetla Zhelyazkova, Director of NEA GERMANIKA; Eng. Mariyana Stratieva, Director of Prof. Dr Asen Zlatarov Vocational High School of Tourism; Margarita Todorova, Principal of St. Kliment Ohridski Primary School; students; and Veselina Yurukova, Chair of the Omega Association. They all shared vivid, warm and heartfelt memories of their own school days, the friendships they formed and the knowledge they gained, which gave them a good start in life. The video also featured an appeal from children who said they imagined the school of the future with lighter schoolbags and fewer lessons that would not leave them feeling overloaded. Regional Governor Nikola Chanev summed it up in one word: “interactive”. “I imagine artificial intelligence becoming increasingly widespread and everything becoming computerised.” He also announced that a company in Kardzhali would help introduce the dual education system in two schools. The company would fund the young people’s training and develop the skilled workforce it needs itself.
“I believe that within a few years, paper textbooks will be replaced by electronic ones,” the governor said. Zhelyazkova described the school of the future as a place children would enjoy going to, where every child’s talent would be discovered and developed.
The discussion addressed the need to make school curricula less demanding, provide more practical lessons and improve school facilities, with particular emphasis on sports facilities.
Opinions were also shared on innovation in education. According to Todorova, innovation means something new, intriguing, interesting and fun that motivates students to look forward to going to school. “I hope children will grow into independent thinkers and teachers will become innovators.”
Following the video, which captured the attention of guests and participants, Svetla Zhelyazkova, Director of NEA GERMANIKA, and Stanimira Paskova from the language centre presented an online learning software product in their presentation entitled “Moodle4kids”. The platform has been introduced at the educational centre, making the language school one of the first in the country to adopt a similar online learning system for primary-level education. Hybrid learning is precisely the link between traditional and online learning, Zhelyazkova explained. The biggest advantage of the Moodle platform is that it is free software. The only costs are for installation and system configuration, training teachers and lecturers, as well as hosting and system maintenance. The platform supports chat and communication with a virtual classroom, teacher evaluations, messaging and online tests. It can also display YouTube videos.
Veselina Yurukova, Chair of the Omega Association, said that the forum was a step forward for youth policy and education. “At Omega, we have a mission and clear goals. Our team’s mission is to help young people develop. That is why we create and carry out projects related to youth activities. We teach young people fundamental human values, educate them about democracy and active citizenship, defend human rights and promote the inclusion of socially excluded groups.”
Since the beginning of the year, a Youth Information and Consultation Centre has been operating in the region as part of a project run by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. A football tournament was held with great success. Training sessions have also been organised on volunteering, youth initiatives, presentation skills and leadership. The centre’s staff talk to young people about personal development, career choices and educational pathways. They work in partnership with major organisations such as Teach for Bulgaria, the Human Resource Development Centre, educational institutions and Jobtiger. Yurukova also presented their successful project “Youth Recharge”, implemented through the Erasmus+ programme.
Yurukova shared some worrying information: young people from smaller communities can lag behind their peers in larger cities by as much as three years in their development.
Aleksandar Ivanov from SoftUni captured the attention of guests and participants with his natural manner and enthusiasm. He began by asking how many people in the room had hated going to school. “I was one of those students who hated school with all my heart. And the funny thing is, it was still the same later on,” he joked.
He explained that he had barely made it through school, somehow managing to maintain a decent level, but only just getting accepted into university. It was only when he began studying something he loved that he became an excellent student. “Suddenly, it turned out that I could study — and quite well, too. I graduated with top honours and went to America. I came back here and became one of the Teach for Bulgaria teachers, spending two years teaching in the amazing little village of Chelopech. Together with my students, I won an Erasmus project, which enabled them to travel to the Czech Republic, Romania and Turkey, learning English while having fun. In just five weeks, they learned more than they would have learned in an entire school year of that subject.” The parents were so moved that they came to thank him for this achievement.
“That touched me deeply and made me realise that school destroys talent and tries to fit people into moulds. It breaks the connection with creativity and with the idea that people should follow their own path,” Ivanov said.
Ivanov told the story of the Wright brothers, who achieved the first successful flight while everyone was placing their hopes in a famous professor who was constantly followed by journalists. The Wright brothers had no formal education and no money. They built bicycles, were driven by passion and followed their hearts.
“Education is not something that should come from the outside. On the contrary, it should come from the student — from their passion, individuality and very essence.”
Georgi Zlatarov from Nimero presented “Envision: One Computer, Many Mice”.
The main organisers of the event are NEA GERMANIKA Language Centre, St. Kliment Ohridski Primary School, Prof. Dr Asen Zlatarov Vocational High School of Tourism, and the Kardzhali Youth Information and Consultation Centre (MIKC). Partners and supporters of the educational forum also include the Municipality of Kardzhali, the Kardzhali Regional Administration and the Teach for Bulgaria Foundation.
