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Round Tableon the Draft of Pre-school and School Education Law was held on February 24 at the National Assembly. Members of the Committee on Education took part in it as well as, the Minister of Education Youth and Science Sergey Ignatov, the Deputy Minister Milena Damyanova, representatives of teacher unions and NGOs.
The Draft law in its form is the result of long-term discussions, involving all stakeholders. It provides for accelerated modernization of the education system, said in his opening address Minister Ignatov. I could imagine even a more flexible law, for example, one that allows for a 10th grade student to have passed some subjects corresponding to 8^th grade, but the current system could not afford it. The Draft keeps balance between development and maintaining of the system.

Deputy Minister Damyanova made a resume of key aspects in the new law. She emphasized that it has been subject to a number of discussions as result of which many new ideas have been generated. Consequently, this bill differs substantially from the original version, released in April 2010 and corresponds to the concept of a new law published in March 2011.
In the four-hour debate, statements of over 20 MPs have been made, also union leaders, representatives of local authorities and NGOs. Almost all supported the draft law as a whole with recommendations in relation to specific parts of it.

Deyan Kolev from CIEDT Amalipe reminded that shortly after the publication of the first working specimen of the law, a great number of Roma organizations have been united around some common demands. Almost all have been taken in consideration and are now available in the draft law: the principles of the system of pre-school and school education guarantee equal access, retaining ethno-cultural education and adherence to non-discrimination; introduction of state administered standards for civic, health and intercultural education. Although its three-in-one from is far from being the most effective, this standard - if effectively developed - could become the legal basis for introduction of intercultural education and for conducting a large-scale educational integration policy, said Kolev. The draft-law requires that all schools develop their own programs to prevent early school leaving and integration of vulnerable groups. With respect to funding resources for the equitable access to education, school programs for preventing early school leaving will be financed by the state budget – i.e. schools will receive funds over the unified standards to provide for the implementation of those programs. Nevertheless, one of the key demands of Roma organizations has not been accordingly met – text, which prohibits the formation of classes and schools along ethnic lines. We will defend this to the last because it is a key aspect of educational integration policy, insisted Kolev.

This draft is positive because it provides opportunity for the development of rural education: via the opportunity that elementary schools be furthered to secondary level (providing training up to 10th grade) they will not only be saved, but also hundreds of schools in small rural areas will be developed and the percentage of young people enrolled in secondary stage will significantly increase. At the same time, it is necessary that the law and accompanying regulations be more flexible to different forms of training so as to facilitate integration of children of seasonal migrants abroad. These are tens of thousands of children who leave school for a month or two to travel abroad, then have to stay out of school because of cumbersome regulations. Definitely more flexibility is entailed because the education system must comply with dynamic modern life, not vice versa, argues Deyan Kolev.
In response, Deputy Minister Damyanova expressed her gratitude to Roma organizations for their activity and explained that the request to prohibit the formation of classes and schools along ethnic lines will be included in the bill.