News

23 April 2025

The Ombudsman Institution sent a letter to the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev to urge that thorough information be publicly released about the Ministry’s intention to introduce “Religion and Virtues” as a compulsory subject in the syllabi of the schools countrywide.

The Secretary General of the Ombudsman Dr. Aysun Avdjiev draws attention to the fact that a public debate is necessary in order to reach a consensus on the matter, including guaranteeing the secular nature of education as proclaimed by the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The reason for this letter is reports and complaints from parents and citizens where they demand answers. People express different views – from strong disagreement to full support for teaching religion and tell about petitions filed (disagreement with the compulsory teaching of religion and support for the compulsory teaching of religion) and signed by thousands of citizens.

“In their letters to the Institution of the National Ombudsman, citizens express concerns about guaranteeing the secular nature of education, as well as the freedom to choose a religion and religious and atheistic views. The letters raise important questions regarding the coexistence of religious classes and the secular nature of education and the guarantees of the freedom of choice of students and their parents, the impartiality and inviolability of students’ views, the generation of conditions to respect the will of students and their parents regarding religious classes, the organization and appointment of teaching staff under the various syllabi,” Mr. Avdjiev writes to the Minister.

Further, he points out that some citizens believe that religious classes will inculcate morals and values in students and will save the Bulgarian national identity.

“As an independent human rights institution, the Institution of the National Ombudsman closely monitors what occurs in the education system and, in abidance by the powers vested in it, insists that the institutions in charge act to ensure the respect for the citizens’ rights part of which is the secular nature of education guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria. Education in Bulgarian schools is based on a nondenominational curriculum and abides by the principles of the secular state. It is secular and neutral education and sticks to the principle of the separation of the Church from the State as enshrined in the Constitution,” the Secretary General of the Ombudsman emphasizes.

Further, he draws attention to the fact that in recent years with the Preschool and School Education Act in force, the education system has given students the opportunity to study religion as an elective or optional course.

“The subject ‘Religion’ imparts knowledge about different religious systems from a cultural and philosophical perspective, so that students would know about world religions as part of human history and culture, and promotes tolerance and intercultural dialog,” Mr. Avdjiev writes.

At the same time, he draws attention to the fact that as of now it is not clear what the themes and content of the subject “Religion and Virtues” would be.

Mr. Avdjiev points out that despite the Ministry’s intention to go without grades for this subject and to give students a choice of three options of religion classes at school, information is scanty as to how it would progress.

Dr. Aysun Avdjiev stresses that citizens are worried and ask what the syllabi would be for the different grades, how the rights of students from different denominations and of students who are nonbelievers would be protected, how the secular nature of education and training at school would be ensured and whether there are teachers who are competent to teach this subject.