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51 Country Overviews

Bulgaria  

Author(s)

  • Nadia Koltcheva, Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University

Abstract

There is a different management and different status of the education and care of children between 0 and 6 to 7 years of age in Bulgaria. This is due to a so-called “split system.” Respectively, there is a stronger focus on care in nurseries for children from 10 months until 3 years of age, and a stronger focus on education for children from 3 until 6 to 7 years of age, or entering first year, which are in preschool education. There are national standards for knowledge and competencies that children must cover during this period (Law on Preschool and School Education, 13.10.2015, last changes 18.09.2020; Preschool Education State Standards in Ordinance № 5, 3 of June 2016 on Preschool Education). Social skills are recognized and are included into one of the domains (3. The world around), however, they are a very small part and are mostly defined as knowledge rather than skills. However, the process for the promotion and recognition of social and emotional skills (SES) in Bulgaria has started. It is mostly a bottom-up process. In some kindergartens, implementation of SES activities can be initiated by the staff, within the framework of projects or other types of cooperation. There are private business organisations, child centres, educational centres, therapeutic centres, or individual professionals who offer various activities for social and/or emotional skill development for children. However, there is not much information regarding these approaches, the types of activities, necessary qualifications, proof of effectiveness, etc. Non-governmental sectors are also active in the field, mainly via finance projects for specific vulnerable target groups.There is not a common practice for practitioners working with children in early and preschool years to assess only children’s social and/or emotional skills. Officially, distributed measures that can be identified currently are mainly two groups: (1) developmental measures, which include social and emotional domains and measures, and (2) measures for children with developmental disorders.There are no national or regionally recognized programs or interventions that target SES, but in the country, there are many initiatives: (1) initiatives within kindergartens, (2) initiatives by non-governmental organisations and (3) initiatives by private business organisations.There are foreign programs adapted in Bulgaria (Zippy’s Friends, Verhaltenstraining im Kindergarten), but they are not widely used. There is a newly developed Bulgarian program, “Play with Fori”, which is still in the process of approbation.There is still a lot to be done regarding the promotion and development of children’s SES in Bulgaria. There are various initiatives but they are rather patchy, not sustainable, and are with no clear capacity or effectiveness.

References

  • Атанасова-Трифонова, М., Л.Пенева, Ю.Стоянова, И.Янчева, Л.Ядкова, М.Мутафчиева, Н.Колчева, (2014). Стандарти за развитие и учене в ранното детство: От раждането до три години [Standards for Development and Learning in Early Childhood: From Birth to Three Years of Age], Булвест 2000, София, ISBN 978-954-18-0924-2
  • Атанасова-Трифонова, М., Л.Пенева, Е.Андонова, М.Мутафчиева, Н.Колчева, (2014). Скрининг тест за три годишни деца. Ръководство. [Screening test for three-year-olds: Manual.], Булвест 2000, София, ISBN 978-954-18-0910-5
  • ЗАКОН за предучилищното и училищното образование. (обн. ДВ. бр.79 от 13.10.2015 г., ..., изм. и доп. ДВ. бр.82 от 18.09.2020 г.) (публ. 18.09.2020 г.). (LAW on preschool and school education). https://www.mon.bg/bg/57
  • Наредба № 5 от 3 юни 2016 г. за предучилищното образование, В сила от 01.08.2016 г. (Ordinance № 5 of June 3, 2016 on preschool education, Effective from 01.08.2016). https://www.mon.bg/bg/100104
  • Приятелите на Зипи, (n.d.). http://zippy.animusassociation.org/
  • Проект на Наредба за стандартите за ранно детско развитие, [Ordinance on Early Childhood Development Standards], (2017). Министерски съвет, Портал за обществени консултации, https://www.strategy.bg/PublicConsultations/View.aspx?lang=bg-BG&Id=2574
  • Седлоева-Кирилова, Л., (2018). Емоционалната компетентност в предучилищна възраст – емпирично изследване, Магистърска теза, Когнитивна наука и психология, НБУ
  • Eyubova, S., (2021). Play with Fori, in Compendium of Good Practices for Social and Emotional Skills Development for Early and Preschool Children Applied in European Countries (under press)
  • Giunti Psychometrics Bulgaria website. (n.d.). Clinical Assessment Measures. Retrieved July 3, 2021, from https://www.giuntipsy.bg/
  • Hestia Foundation website. (n.d.). Assessment Tools. Retrieved July 3, 2021, from https://hestiabg.com/bg/en/assessment-tools/
  • National Statistical Institute, Republic of Bulgaria, (26.04.2021), Education and lifelong learning. Kindergartens (Preschool Education), https://www.nsi.bg
  • National Statistical Institute, Republic of Bulgaria, (31.12.2020), Healthcare. Nurseries, Preschool Education, https://www.nsi.bg
  • Stoyanova-Shyrayeu, R., (2021). Verhaltenstraining im Kindergarten, in Compendium of Good Practices for Social and Emotional Skills Development for Early and Preschool Children Applied in European Countries (under press)

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CO-034-Bulgaria.pdf