The second coalition government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov came to power last autumn with programs, ambitions and promises for important reforms in a number of social spheres. Some reforms like those in healthcare and the pension systems started at a legislative level, while others are still being discussed, like the reforms in the sphere of justice. Other planned reforms have been delayed because of the upcoming local elections this fall. However, there is a sphere where no progress is seemingly marked, even the opposite – it has been deteriorating, causing catastrophic problems for the economy, culture and science. This is the sphere of education.

Never in recent years have such poor results at matriculation exams been seen. Nobody remembers such cases of degradation in manners and values, as the recent case of a 14-year-old school girl who beat her teacher. Also over 60% of school students have participated or seen cases of violence in schools. According to the Rector of the Sofia University, Prof. Ivan Ilchev, the manners and education of some students was at a catastrophic level. This seems logical as a recent survey has shown that over 60% of young people believe that the most important thing is appearance, not success in school, education, career, family, relatives or other basic human values.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), if education in Bulgaria was closer to the level of the top ten countries, GDP may increase several times. Poland has already proved this and the former socialist country has one of the most successful economies and high living standards in the EU. Just a decade ago, one of the main advantages of Bulgaria when attracting foreign investors was skilled and cheap labour. Today labour remains cheap but it is not qualified anymore. There are ideas for introducing the so –called Swiss dual system of splitting academic and vocational training that may change the picture.

Reality is actually scary, since 22% of young people in this country neither work, nor study. They do not even try to find a job. Naturally more than 27% of young Bulgarians do not have a permanent job and youth unemployment in the country is one of the highest in the European Union. Unskilled, unmotivated and without any practical skills – what are young Bulgarians actually counting on? Meanwhile, the economy desperately needs knowledgeable and skilled young experts. Competitive products and services today are produced by using modern IT, industrial, bio, etc. technology. These technologies require high level of knowledge and skills.

The reasons for the ever-worsening educational level of Bulgarian youths are many. Virtually the whole society and state are responsible for the situation. At the backdrop of the demographic crisis in Bulgaria, where population declines each year by the number of inhabitants of a midsize city, problems with the education of young people acquire a decisive role even when talking about the mere physical survival of the Bulgarian nation.

English: Alexander Markov