New school year in Bulgaria started

The new school year has started for more than 720,000 Bulgarian students.

A total of 58,500 students will start school for the first time.

As part of the tradition, the beginning of the new school year is marked with the ceremonial bell-ringing, children bringing flowers to teachers and festivities.

In the school year 2024/2025, a total of 2,331 schools will operate in the country.

Caretaker Minister of Education opened the school year and rang the first bell at 122 school in Sofia.

This new school year begins with some changes - textbooks from 8th to 12th grade will now also be free-of-charge. More vacation days have been given, but instead, during the national external assessment after 7th grade, everyone else will be at school.

There is also a debate about whether or not students should be allowed to use telephones in schools in Bulgaria. According to caretaker Minister Galin Tsokov, this issue cannot be resolved by the caretaker government, but talks with the social partners will begin.

"Many children are distracted during class. So, if mobile phones use can somehow be limited - I am in favour. A total ban is not always the best solution. We need to discuss the topic very carefully. In the interests of the children and their performance at school.

Students in 24 schools across the country will not start the year in their buildings because of ongoing renovations.

Images by BTA