Country information for Bulgaria - Teacher education for inclusive education
The National Action Plan states that all teachers should be trained to teach learners with special educational needs. Since 2007, specialist training has been provided in 11 universities across the country (source: OECD, 2007, p. 32).
Teachers from pre-school and school education should have ‘bachelor’ or ‘master’ higher education qualifications, as well as administrative and pedagogical function qualifications. Additional professional qualifications in ‘special pedagogy’ is needed to work with learners with special educational needs.
Continuous professional development (CPD) activities for teachers are organised and co-ordinated by universities and their qualification departments, by schools, the regional education departments and the Ministry of Education and Science. According to the Law of Pre-school and School Education, pedagogical specialists are obliged to improve their skills annually, to improve the quality of their work and the results and quality of learners’ education. Head teachers in kindergartens, schools and personal development support centres must provide the necessary conditions for continuing professional development of the pedagogical specialists. Specialised service units from universities and research organisations provide CPD, together with training organisations approved under the conditions and by the order of the State educational standard for the status and professional development of teachers, principals and other pedagogical specialists. A system of qualification credits and certification documents measure improvements in pedagogical specialists’ qualifications. The qualifications credits system is determined by the state educational standard for the status and the professional development of teachers, principals and other pedagogical specialists.
The Ministry of Education and Science has access to European funds to create conditions for teachers’ continuing pedagogical qualifications.
Last updated 02/03/2021