State standards for teaching qualification

In 2019, the Ordinance No.15 of 22 July 2019 on the status and professional development of teachers, school principals and other pedagogical specialists was adopted by the Council of Ministers. The ordinance defined the State standard on teacher status, qualification requirements and professional development in all schools, including vocational schools.

The development of the professional competences of the pedagogical staff was carried out based on the fact that the pedagogical staff is contstantly qualified; this is explicitly regulated by the Pre-school and School Education Act (PSEA) and Ordinance No15 of 22 July 2019.

The Ordinance regulated the introduction of an appraisal procedure for pedagogical specialists which aims at evaluating the effectiveness of teachers' work. It also seeked to determine the results achieved, enhance teacher motivation and identify the needs in methodological and organisational support for pedagogical specialists.

The COVID-19 crisis in Bulgaria significantly changed the timetable and organisation of the appraisal procedure. For some pedagogical specialists (in the personal development centres and inclusive education centres) the procedure was postponed. It was allowed to conduct the appraisal online.

In 2021, changes to the Ordinance No15/22 July 2019 on the status and professional development of teachers, school principals and other pedagogical specialists were implemented. Some changes are related to the structure and content of the professional portfolio of teachers, which should include evidence of their education, qualifications obtained and professional development. This allowed to carry out the appraisal procedure in an online environment.

Other changes are related to the positions of senior teacher and head teacher. The results of the last appraisal procedure were added to the requirements for holding these positions.

Amendments to the same ordinance in 2021 regulate the establishment of an Information database for analyses and forecasts for staffing pre-schools and schools with pedagogical specialists. This database contains information about qualification requirements and professional development of the pedagogical specialists, information about teachers and looking for work.

In 2021, the Ordinance No18/9 September.2021 on the inspection of kindergartens and schools (applicable also to VET schools) was adopted with the aim to set a State education standard in this area. There are three domains of inspection, i.e. the education provision, management of the institution and institutional environment;(i.e. physical environment, information and library provision, organizational culture, inclusive and supporting environment for effective relationships, satisfaction of all participants in the educational process). The Ordinance stipulated the annual publication (by 31 August of each year) of the approved criteria and indicators for the appraisal procedure 31 August) on the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) website.

According to data from NEI, 65 schools were inspected in 2021. The appraisal procedure for the pedagogical specialists in institutions that were inspected should be carried out within a year (following the inspection).

In 2022, the programme Education 2021-27 was adopted. This programme is one of the main tools for implementing priority 1 Education and skills of the National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030 and envisages activities related to the revision of State education standards development and VET curricula design.

The programme also focusses on the qualifications and on increasing the capacity of pedagogical specialists, non-pedagogical staff and educational mediators.

For the effective implementation of the competence model regarding teachers' qualifications the main activities of the programme include:

1. training for updating knowledge, methodological, practical skills, enhancing the qualifications of teachers), school leaders and experts in the Regional Departments of Education-Territorial Administration Units (including leadership skills and developing a professional and value oriented code of conduct for the teaching profession);
2. setting up professional learning communities.

The third priority of the programme Education 2021 -27 - Relevance of the education with the labour market - provides for the development and implementation of competency profiles of the VET teachers as part of the process of adapting VET provision to labour market needs.

In 2022, another National programme entitled Motivated teachers and qualification was adopted. This programme was developed in alignment with the activities of priority 3- Motivated and creative teachers stipulated in the Strategic framework for the development of education, training and learning in the Republic of Bulgaria (2021-30) which was adopted in 2021.

The programme aims to increase the quality and effectiveness of training, to improve the civic competences of learners in all education levels by improving and enriching the key competences of pedagogical specialists and by implementing a system for evaluating the effect of training on teachers CPD. The programme aims to recruit motivated specialists with diverse backgrounds into the teaching profession.

The programme consists of four modules:

1. module one: training of specialists new to the school education system to acquire the professional qualification 'teacher' and preparation for their inclusion in the educational process;
2. module two: training of pedagogical specialists employed in the preschool and school education system to acquire additional professional qualifications;
3. module three: training of pedagogigal specialists without previous, actual professional experience as teachers;
4. module four: continuous improvement of teachers', principals' and other pedagogical staff qualifications; conducting research; conferences, etc.

In 2022, the implementation of the teacher appraisal policy (as specified by Ordinance No 18/9 September 2021 which states that teachers, principals, and other pedagogical specialists must undergo an attestation appraisal every four years) continued. The appraisal procedure was carried out in two stages - self-assessment of the attested person and assessment by the attestation commission.

In 2023, a National programme (NP) entitled Qualifications of the pedagogical specialists was adopted. The NP was developed in alignment with the Strategic framework for the development of education, training and learning in the Republic of Bulgaria (2021-30). The programme is oriented towards newly appointed teachers (their adaptation in the school educational environment) and experienced teachers (updating and acquiring new competences). The NP aims to increase the quality of education especially in schools with small numbers of classes, to increase the teachers' qualifications, etc. The scope of the NP includes activities to support newly appointed teachers and principals, training for improving the competencies of teachers, principals and other pedagogical specialists, organisation of professional forums and conferences for the motivation and exchange of pedagogical experience, methodical support and building professional communities; participation in teacher programmes, etc. According to the Ministry of Education and Science's report on the implementation of national programs, 7,032 pedagogical specialists participated in various forms of qualification activities, with a total expenditure of 1,114,725 BGN.

In 2023, in accordance with the Ordinance No 18 of 9 September 2021 on the inspection of kindergartens and schools and the data from the National Education Inspectorate, 121 schools, mostly in Sofia were inspected.

At the same time the appraisal procedure for the pedagogical specialists in institutions that were already inspected continued. However, the number of schools inspected was negligibly small compared to the total number of schools in Bulgaria. According to the education ministry, about 15% of pedagogical specialists were included in the appraisal procedure in 2023.

In April 2024 a new version of the National programme (NP) Qualifications of the pedagogical specialists was adopted. This new version is structured in three modules aimed at continuous professional development (CPD) (module 1), at acquiring additional professional qualifications (module 2) and in increasing international cooperation and training, i.e. to increase the participation of pedagogical specialists in programmes and training falling under international agreements (module 3). At the same time, the programme meets the priorities of the education ministry to support and motivate newly appointed teachers and principals, to update their existing skill set, to foster the acquisition of new competencies by pedagogical specialists so that students have better results and to improve the overall quality of the educational process. As part of the implementation of module 1 of the programme, it is planned to hold a master class-i.e. specialised training led by an expert or professional in a particular field aimed at providing participants with an advanced skillset in the particular topics-for teachers and principals in several areas: formative assessment, students' reading literacy, improving the results and the quality of learning. As of September 2024, 19 masterclass projects have been approved for funding.

According to the annual report on the activity plan of the National Inspectorate of Education (NEI) for the academic year 2023/24 (September 2023 - September 2024) 63 schools were inspected and 63 reports were drafted covering this period. This was a breach of regulatory requirements as all schools had to be inspected by 2023.

Therefore, the education ministry proposed changes in the Ordinance No 15 of 22 July 2019 on the status and professional development of teachers, school principals and other pedagogical specialists, and more precisely that the interrelation between the appraisal procedure and the inspection of the schools should be abolished. The education ministry also suggested to postpone the appraisal procedure for 2025.