TSA, in collaboration with its partners from Youth Foundation “Arete”, Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe”, “Integro” Association, Association “Roma Academy for Culture and Education” – Sliven, “New Road” Association - Hayredin, has undertaken an effort to map the hidden barriers to accessibility—both financial and logistical—faced by secondary school students and their families in the regions of Veliko Tarnovo, Vratsa, Kyustendil, Razgrad, and Sliven. These barriers include access to school transportation, school meals, educational materials and supplies, as well as other everyday challenges.
The report, "The Path of Bulgarian Secondary Education – with Varying (Im)Passability for Each Student and Their Family", examines the state of the educational system in Bulgaria, highlighting socio-economic inequalities and the challenges faced by students, families, and teachers. The main issues include:
- Unequal Start and Access: Students often find themselves in environments that fail to consider their individual needs and potential. Significant disparities exist among schools, ranging from social service provision to elitist practices. A specific phenomenon is the use of school-provided meals as a means to attract students rather than as a fundamental right or a response to genuine social need;
- Teacher Preparation: Insufficient teacher training and a lack of sensitivity toward diversity and social issues result in limited support for disadvantaged students;
- Problems with Educational Resources: There is a lack of a unified information system for transportation, partially subsidized textbooks, and a formal approach to preparation for state exams (DZI);
- Systemic Weaknesses: Many students drop out or fail to obtain a secondary education diploma due to gaps in basic education, resource shortages, and ineffective policies;
- The Role of NGOs and Local Initiatives: Local governments and NGOs often step in with independent solutions to address the gaps left by inadequate state support.
The report advocates for targeted planning and comprehensive reforms to ensure fair and equitable access to quality education for all students. To read the full report in Bulgarian