Education Reform in Bulgaria: A Study in Failure?

• Main Author: E. Dainov
• Format: Article
• Language: Bulgarian
• Published: University of Sofia 2007-09-01
• Series: Bulgarian Journal of Science and Education Policy
• Subjects: Education; Reform; Bulgaria
• Online Access: http://bjsep.org/getfile.php?id=39

Transition to democracy requires restructuring the institutions, beliefs and practices of a society. Failed education reform ensures that transitions remain fragile, thus creating political risks, while the market place suffers from a mismatch of skills sought and skills offered, thus undermining economic stability. Reforms fail under indecisive governments, lacking in public support, incapable of overcoming entrenched interests. Institutionally, the Bulgarian education establishment continually evaded reform by de-legitimating and sidetracking it, thus helping entrenched interests preserve the status quo. Culturally, the public continually suspected that “reform” would undermine national identity and close upward mobility avenues. Future reform attempts would have to begin with restructuring education away from a heavily-centralized and state-run system, and towards competition and accountability, beginning with decisive de-centralization.