We are releasing the second edition of our study, The Path of Bulgarian Secondary Education – With Different Levels of Accessibility for Each Student and Their Family 2.0. It offers a deep, data-driven look at how national policies do (or don’t) translate into meaningful support for students across the country.
The findings are clear: not all children start their educational journey from the same place. Some set off with advantages — support, stability, and resources. Others face steep barriers right from the beginning: no transportation, insufficient money for food or school supplies, administrative hurdles, and everyday costs that remain invisible to policymakers but ultimately determine whether a child reaches the classroom and completes secondary school.
In 2023/2024, we took the first step in mapping these hidden barriers in five regions: Veliko Tarnovo, Vratsa, Kyustendil, Razgrad, and Sliven.
In 2024/2025, we are expanding the research to five more regions: Gabrovo, Montana, Plovdiv, Shumen, and Yambol. Together, these insights create a fuller picture of access to secondary education in Bulgaria – seen through the experiences of students, parents, teachers, school leaders, local institutions, and partner organizations.
Some of the most powerful parts of the report are the stories of students supported in preparing for the State Matriculation Exams through TSA’s “Equal Chance” program. These narratives put a human face on the data and remind us that behind every number is a real child with real needs, real effort, and real dreams.