News

11 September 2025

"The introduction of a school subject called 'Virtues and Religions' requires further public debate, as it is clear that society is polarized on this issue." This was stated today by Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva before the Human Rights and Religious Affairs Committee during the presentation of a summary opinion on the two bills amending and supplementing the Pre-school and School Education Act (PSEA), submitted by the Council of Ministers and MP Elisaveta Belobradova from the Parliamentary group "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria".

Delcheva emphasized that the Ombudsman Institution was receiving complaints related to how the secular nature of education and training in schools will be guaranteed, how the rights of students of different faiths and those who are atheists will be protected, what the curricula for the subject will include in different grades, and whether there are teachers trained in this subject.

According to her, this "Virtues and Religions" subject should not be included in the compulsory curriculum, but should be introduced at the lower secondary level, with topics aligned with the secular nature of our education system and the age of the students.

 "As Ombudsman, I support the proposals in both bills to introduce preparatory classes and intensive Bulgarian language learning for children whose mother tongue is not Bulgarian, which will contribute to their successful integration into the education system and reduce the dropout rate. Language support for them is essential for their future development and integration into the labor market," said Velislava Delcheva.

She also pointed out the need for more hours devoted to learning Bulgarian in kindergartens for children whose mother tongue is not Bulgarian, so that when they enter first grade, they can understand and speak Bulgarian.

"I welcome the broadening of the proposed amendments to the Pre-school and School Education Act with additional provisions aimed at improving conditions for inclusive education for children and students with special educational needs," Delcheva added, and stressed that the complaints received by the Ombudsman institution revealed great dissatisfaction among parents regarding the restriction of their right to choose the form of education.