Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Teachers in Bulgaria ready to go on strike, demand pay rise

Photo: BGNES, archive

77 per cent of those employed in Bulgaria's secondary education system are ready to go out on strike demanding a pay rise in the sector, according to a national survey by Podkrepa trade union. Half of those surveyed are in favour of a nation-wide effective strike, around 25 per cent favour national and regional rallies, and over 20 per cent favour a failure to complete the first term of the school year.

Teachers are demanding a 21% pay rise, which would guarantee them 125% above the national average gross wage, Yuliyan Petrov, chairman of the Education trade union at the Podkrepa trade union, told BNR.

"A young teacher currently receives a salary of BGN 1,445 (€738.8), which is indicative that even if young people become teachers, they will not stay with the numerous duties," the trade unionist said. 

Thus, if salaries are not increased, the average age in the Bulgarian education system - currently over 52 - will rise even further.



Read also:


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

After summer-like temperatures, snow is coming

At night, the wind will shift from the north-northeast and bring in cold air. On Tuesday, cloudy weather will prevail. In many places there will be snowfalls. The lowest temperatures will be between minus 1°C and 4°C; in Sofia -..

published on 3/17/25 6:45 PM
Fire Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov.

The tragedy in the Macedonian town of Kocani prompts preventive action in Bulgaria

The fire in a discotheque in the Macedonian town of Kocani, which killed 59 young people and injured more than 150, has prompted preventive action by the authorities in Bulgaria. The fire service has launched additional inspections of nearly 260..

published on 3/17/25 6:05 PM

Dozens of people donate blood in Sofia for the victims of the Kočani tragedy

Dozens of people have responded to the call of the Pirogov Emergency Hospital in Sofia to donate blood in support of the victims of the fire in Kočani, North Macedonia. The campaign is organized by the Bulgarian Red Cross. It will..

published on 3/17/25 4:39 PM