National programmes supporting VET priorities

The national programme IT career started in September 2017 (academic year 2017/18). 224 learners were enrolled with a view to acquiring the VET qualification of Applied programmer (also established for the first time in 2017).

In the academic year 2018/19, the second year of implementation of the national programme IT career, 307 learners were enrolled.

In the academic year 2019/20, the third year of implementation of the national programme IT career, 509 learners enrolled. The total number of learners enrolled in the programme in the academic year 2019/20 reached 1 040 individuals.

In 2020, the first 218 learners graduated and obtained the VET qualification Applied programmer.

In the academic year 2020/21, 117 learners enrolled for the first time in the national programme IT career.

In 2020, the national programme Business teaches began its implementation. Representatives from companies in STEM-related sections of economic activity trained learners from six general education and VET schools, with a duration of 12 to 18 teaching hours. Business representatives delivered demonstration training (2 teaching hours, twice per year) to 231 schools. The demonstration training aimed to introduce learners to the technological developments of the respective economic section. Teachers from 11 schools participated in training in companies.

In 2021, the national VET programme began. From March to December 2021, modernisation of the infrastructure of 28 VET schools (equipment of VET laboratories, specialised software products, technological equipment) took place, with joint financing by enterprises. In the same period, 22 VET curricula were updated, 196 VET study programmes and 113 national VET examination programmes were elaborated and introduced for the school year 2021/22, eight e-textbooks for VET were developed and approved as free education resources and over 300 VET teachers were trained for the application of new VET examination programmes.

In 2021, the national programme IT career was renamed to National programme IT skills and career. Also in 2021, 191 learners obtained the VET qualification of applied programmer. In 2021, in its fourth year of implementation, the total number of learners enrolled in the programme was 748. Additional training was conducted for 50 teachers. The programme was expanded with an additional module entitled IT skills for the future, supporting the elaboration of training content and training materials for IT-related subjects in different VET specialties. The materials were developed by teams of professionals, including representatives of VET schools, companies from the IT sector, and from universities. Additional training for learners was conducted to pilot the newly developed materials and their compliance with the work environment.

In 2021, the national programme Business teaches continued its implementation. Representatives from companies in STEM-related sections of economic activity trained learners (with a duration of 12 to 18 teaching hours) from 33 general education and VET schools. They also demonstrated the latest- specific to their economic activity- technological developments (two teaching hours, twice per year) in 122 schools. Teachers from 11 schools participated in trainings in companies. The total number of the companies participating in the programme increased to 40.

In 2022, the national VET programme continued. Under the module Improvement of VET school equipment to match labour market needs, 21 schools acquired the necessary equipment with 10% joint financing by employers. Under the module Development and update of VET curricula, updated documentation for three State educational standards (SES) (full packages), 17 framework curricula, 98 training programmes for VET subjects, and 18 national examination programmes were developed. Sustainable partnerships were established between VET schools and local companies.

The national programme IT skills and career continued, expanding the number of students who enrolled in the programme and who obtained the VET qualification Applied programmer. This expansion also included students who continued their education at tertiary level (professional area Informatics and computer science). In 2022, 1 122 students were enrolled in the programme, and 164 graduates obtained the VET qualification Applied programmer.

Also in 2022, measures for graduate tracking started to be implemented, to monitor the next steps of those who graduated from the IT skills and career national programme (either at the workplace or in tertiary education). The tools used for this tracking were developed under the Erasmus+ project of the education ministry Vision for revision (VIREO).

In 2022, the National programme Business teaches continued its implementation. Representatives from companies in STEM-related sections of economic activity trained learners from 100 (general or vocational) schools (with the duration of 12 to 18 teaching hours) from 33 schools. Teachers from 18 schools participated in training in companies, to familiarise themselves with the latest technological developments.

In the field of VET, the national programmes (NPs) implemented in 2023 were:

The national programme (NP) Vocational education and training with two modules, module one, Modernisation of the material and technical infrastructure and module two, Modernisation of the educational content.

During the reporting period under the NP Vocational education and training, under module one, Modernisation of the material and technical infrastructure, 36 project proposals were submitted, of which 20 were approved.

Under module two, Modernisation of the educational content, the following were developed and approved:

1. 16 standard curricula;
2. 77 VET study programmes;
3. nine national examination programmes;
4. one complete package of learning documentation.

The national programme (NP) IT Skills and Career with two modules: module one, IT career training, and module two, IT skills for the future.

Under module one, IT career training, for the academic year 2022-23 the following took place:

For the three-year study course:

1. 380 students completed the first year of the NP (X class);
2. 219 students completed the second year of the NP (XI grade);
3. 194 students graduated from the third year of the NP (XII grade);
4. 168 students graduated from secondary school and acquired the III degree of professional qualification.

For the one-year study course:

1. six students completed the first year of the NP (XII grade).

The five training centres which were established in 2017 continued upgrading and expanding their functionalities and capacities. Also, 52 teachers upgraded their competencies.

Under module two, IT skills for the future, for the academic year 2022-23:

1. eight partnerships between schools and IT companies were approved and funded;
2. 34 teachers were trained;
3. 387 students were trained;

In 2024 the national programmes (NPs) that were implemented were:

The NP Vocational education and training with two modules. Module one, Modernisation of the material and technical infrastructure and module two, Modernisation of the educational content.

During the reporting period, 25 project proposals were submitted under module one, Modernisation of the material and technical infrastructure, which were assessed and evaluated by a commission appointed by order of the education minister. Out of the 25 proposals, one project proposals received funding.

Under module two, Modernisation of the educational content, the following were developed and approved (for the academic year 2024/25):

1. 15 standard curricula;
2. 55 VET programmes;
3. four national examination programmes;

The National programme (NP) IT skills and career.

Under this NP the following took place (up to July 2024) for the academic year 2023/24.

For the three-year study course:

1. 359 students completed the first year of the NP (Class X) (Sofia: 30, Pravets: 36, Plovdiv: 133, Ruse: 58, Burgas: 102);
2. 274 students graduated from the II year of the NP (XI grade) (Sofia: 24, Pravets: 29, Plovdiv: 144, Ruse: 38, Burgas: 39);
3. 217 students graduated from the III year of the NP (XII grade) (Sofia: 17, Pravets: 41, Plovdiv: 133, Ruse: 6; Burgas: 20);
4. 205 students graduated from the NP and acquired the III degree of professional qualification (Sofia: 10; Pravets: 40, Plovdiv: 130, Ruse: 6; Burgas: 19)

For the one-year study course:

1. six students completed the first year of the NP (XII grade);
2. six students graduated from the NP and acquired the III SPK qualification.

In the field of vocational education and training (VET), the following National Programmes (NPs) were implemented in 2025: NP ‘National VET Programme’ and NP ’IT skills and career’ and NP 'Vocational Education and Training’.

NP 'National VET Programme'

Module 1 – ’Modernisation of the material and technical infrastructure’. A total of 29 project proposals were submitted under Module 1. All proposals were reviewed and evaluated by a commission appointed by the Minister of Education and Science, with 18 project proposals approved for funding.

Module 2 – ’Modernisation of teaching and examination content’. Under Module 2, to ensure the necessary teaching documentation for the 2025/26 academic year, 24 curricula and four national examination programmes were elaborated and approved.

National Programme ‘IT skills and career‘

The implementation rate of indicators at the end of the 2024/25 school year was as follows:

For the 3-year training course:

1. number of students who completed Year I (Grade 10) – 287
2. number of students who completed Year II (Grade 11) – 27
3. number of students who completed Year III (Grade 12) – 233
4. number of students who completed the programme and obtained a third degree of vocational qualification – 227

For the 1-year training course:

1. number of students who completed Year I (Grade 12) – 6;
2. number of students who completed the programme and obtained a third degree of vocational qualification – 2

The five training centres, established in 2017, continued to upgrade and expand their functionality and capacity. The competences of 15 teachers have been further developed and enhanced.