Policy for comprehensive, 
         Policy for comprehensive, 
         accessible and quality education 
         accessible and quality education 
         and training. Lifelong learning.
         and training. Lifelong learning.
       Improving the quality of education
       Ensuring equal access to education and 
         opening up of the education system
       Linking vocational education and training with 
         labour market needs
       Creating conditions and enabling environment 
         for implementation of the National Strategy for 
         Lifelong Learning 
       Transforming Bulgaria into a country of 
         knowledge and innovation
                                                          2
          Main goals of education 
          Main goals of education 
          policy
          policy
         equal access to education
         quality education
         Equal access to education and quality education are 
            interrelated – equal access means access to quality 
            education, and quality education reveals its full 
            potential only if accessed by every Bulgarian child.  
         Equal access to quality education is directly linked to 
            the establishment of conditions for sustainable 
            development – establishment of conditions and 
            environment at school and university level but also 
            building up a system of services and appropriate 
            infrastructure in order to support and facilitate the 
            exercise of everybody’s right to education.
                                                                    3
           Priority of education 
           Priority of education 
           policy
           policy
        Development of policies and measures 
        targeted at establishing inclusive schools 
        and kindergartens which adequately meet 
        the needs of children and students,  
        particularly disadvantaged children and 
        students,  and also at providing the required 
        support to them during school education and 
        preschool education and training.
        These policies and measures are laid down 
        in the main strategic documents of the 
        Ministry of Education and Science.
                                                          4
             Main strategic documents of 
             Main strategic documents of 
             the Ministry of Education and 
             the Ministry of Education and 
             Science
             Science
             Strategy to reduce the share of early 
               school leaving (2013 –2020)
             The policies and key measures to prevent early school 
               leaving, which are set out in the Strategy, include also 
               providing access to education and increasing the 
               quality of education for children and students from 
               vulnerable ethnic communities. 
             The Strategy is oriented towards implementation of 
               policies and measures in order to achieve the goal of 
               “11% share of the early school leavers by 2020”, a 
               goal also outlined by the National Reform Programme 
               of the Republic of Bulgaria (2012 – 2020). 
                                                                         5
              Main strategic documents of 
              Main strategic documents of 
              the Ministry of Education and 
              the Ministry of Education and 
              Science
              Science
               National Strategy for Lifelong Learning 
                 for the period 2014 - 2020 
               The National Strategy for Lifelong Learning sets the strategic 
                 framework of the state policy for education and training for 
                 the period 2014 – 2020, which is targeted at achieving the 
                 EU objective of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. 
               The National Strategy is based on four main principles: 
               - Application of an educational approach supporting the 
                 development of all learners and contributing towards 
                 development of thinking, capable and proactive individuals; 
               - Increasing the quality of education and training;
               - Ensuring the educational environment for equal access to 
                 lifelong learning and for active social inclusion and active 
                 citizen participation;
               - Promoting education and training aligned to the needs of 
                 the economy and changes on the labour market.
                                                                             6