24.09.2013The first meeting of the new Public Council at the Ministry of Education was held
The first meeting of the new Public Council at the Ministry of Education was held on 17 September 2013. It was attended by Minister AneliyaKlisarova, Deputy Ministers Mukaddes Nalbant, Atanaska Teneva and Ivan Krastev, Chief Secretary Krasimir Valtchev and members from the unions, professional organizations and NGOs working in the field of education. Center "Amalipe" was presented by Deyan Kolev. 
"Public Council can be of great help in taking decisions on important issues of education, said Minister Klisarova in her opening speech to the participants. We do not think alike, but truth was born in dispute and we must come to the best decision on an issue, to be useful for children and teachers, and for all of us, and for all of Bulgaria. " The Minister presented the priority tasks which the Ministry would set in the next few months - namely the Law on Secondary Education, the Vocational Education and Strategy for Higher Education.
After the speech of the Minister, Public Council continued its work with the submission of articles discussing the rules and statements about potential priorities for the Council. Deyan Kolev said three key issues. The first one was related to the priorities of the Programme "Science and Education for smart growth," which needs a special Council meeting. The second theme is the outlook for the school system and in particular - the small schools in rural areas. New educational structure would threaten the existence of hundreds of rural schools if there are no targeted measures to change the financing, to ease the criteria for protected schools, etc. The third important topic that deserves to be the subject of a special meeting is the educational integration of children and students from ethnic minorities, said Kolev. On each of these topics Amaliipe Center will provide specific suggestions.
At the end of the meeting was unanimously accepted for the next meeting the Board to consider the role of public organizations in creating public image and prestige of the Bulgarian teacher and school. The proposal was made by Yanka Takeva, president of the Union of Bulgarian teachers. In turn the Ministry will present a calendar of upcoming important legislation and decisions on which the Council should take a position.
Public Council at the Ministry of Education unites 28 representatives of civil society organizations - unions, professional organizations and NGOs working in the field of education. The Council was formed in May 2013 during the caretaker government and held one meeting. In August it was renovated by a new procedure for call of interest. Chairman of the Public Council is Deputy Minister of Education and Science Atanaska Teneva.
