Bulgarian state educational institutions might be in a crisis, but there is an alternative
If you have been in Bulgaria for a long time, you may have noticed that the topic of state education often appears in media reports and public discussions. Kindergartens are full and parents don't know what to do with their children; school teachers go on strike because they don't like the teaching system or the wages they get; universities protest and threaten to close their doors because of unresolved disputes with the government.
State education has indeed been going through a tough time in recent years. There are problems at all levels, from kindergartens to universities. School buildings and facilities are old and worn out, professors aren't paid appropriately and the system of teaching is far from modern and interactive. It really doesn't cost much to enrol your children at a comprehensive school, but what you will receive in return, unfortunately, can be in doubt.
Private education is much more expensive, but the option is worth considering, if you can afford it.
Unlike state education, it has become a fast and successfully developing sector, offering quality and up-to-date services. All state educational institutions already have their private alternatives, so that you can pick from a wide range of prospects, in accordance with your needs and preferences.
By enrolling your child in a foreign language nursery or kindergarten, you can be sure that they will learn, socialise and develop various skills in a healthy and homelike environment while you are at work. Besides, you will save a lot of time and energy not waiting for your turn to come up on the long waiting lists for state kindergartens.
Private schools and high schools offer lots of choices to their pupils – from intensive language study to specialised classes in various professional fields. The students can take advantage of modern facilities and are taught by qualified teachers. Some schools include preparatory courses for international exams like TOEFL and SAT in their programmes, which allows their graduates to continue their education all over the world.
Studying at a Bulgarian private university is also an option. No matter whether you enrol in an undergraduate course or take diplomas to extend your professional qualifications, you will be providing yourself with valuable personal development and career opportunities.
If you are a parent wondering how to begin your children's education, make a start with the kindergarten. The private kindergarten Arlekino is well known for its special attitude to each child. If you want your child to grow in a healthy environment and develop their intellectual and social skills, Arlekino is one of the most appropriate places. The children are in small groups of eight to 12 and are taught by highly qualified specialists. They can study English, Italian or Spanish and take part in special interest clubs and drama. The kindergarten has its own kitchen and offers door-to-door transport. It is open throughout the whole year.
If you consider learning English at an early age to be an important part of your child's education, there are suitable kindergartens. Driven by the desire to create a place where children grow up bilingual,an enthusiastic team of professionals have made every endeavour to fulfill this goal. As a result Cosmos-Kids is an English language nursery, kindergarten and preschool, in which children are raised to become happy, self-assured, successful and, most of all, willing to learn adults. At the kindergarten kids grow up in an English-language environment and have the chance to communicate with peers of multiple nationalities, turning open-minded towards sex, race and religion. Cosmos-Kids is part of the European campaign for language education at an early age.
The Little Prince also offers a foreign language environment, in which children develop as real citizens of the world. At the centre children learn French in groups of 10 in a homelike atmosphere. For a period of one month each year they are taught by native French speakers. Parents can choose between a half-day and a full-day curriculum, according to their preferences. The Little Prince is opened on a yearround basis, closing only in August.
The specialists from the Jan Bibijan Children's Centre promise that you can spend your working day in a peaceful and undisturbed manner, while they are taking care of your children. The Jan Bibijan kindergarten is situated at the foot of Vitosha mountain and offers various options for games, learning and rest for 1 to 6 year-olds. From the ages of five to 12 children can take part in the art clubs and study music, theatre or dance. The centre organises after-school and weekend activities throughout the whole year.
All children up to five years old, as well as their parents, can now check out for themselves the advantages of the largest children's education and entertainment chain in the world, Gymboree Play & Music. The 7-grade educational programme presented by Gymboree Play & Music is unique in Bulgaria. It includes a range of activities suitable for the early development of a child – music and art lessons, sports, games, learning and a half-day curriculum children's centre.
Little Steps Early Learning Centre is a newly opened kindergarten which provides an English-speaking environment. It is located in a beautiful house with spacious rooms and a lovely garden in Simeonovo. Little Steps has full- and half-day programs for children from 2.5 to 7 years old and provides the kids with plenty of opportunities not only to learn but to exercise their creativity in all forms of art.
The enrolment of children to the Svetlina nursery, kindergarten and school started in March this year and will be open until the end of May. From the beginning of the new school year the pupils will enjoy a new building with a large yard, lots of vegetation and a playground. Talented Bulgarian and American teachers will take care of the children in a stimulating environment, and in partnership with their parents.
Both children and adults are invited to check out the qualified language teaching provided by the Oksinia educational centre. You can also enjoy its Kids' centre, where you can leave your child for a short time or for full day care, celebrate a birthday or have sessions with a speech therapist and psychologist. Along with the educational programme, the Kid’s centre provides different activities, including sports such as Kung Fu Toa classes, horse riding and holiday camps.
The Euro Lyceum is a bilingual English- Bulgarian school offering high-quality education from pre-nursery to advanced level grades. The school aims to follow the paths of two educational models – the Bulgarian and the British ones. Nursery and reception education is only in English, and children are prepared for the continuation of their studies in the British programme. All nationalities can study through that programme, and Bulgarians have the option to choose between it and the Bulgarian curriculum. The schools is open to art and innovation and aims to provide a future-oriented education for its students.
An education from preliminary school to 12th grade is also offered at Private School Lotos. At this school children have the chance to study foreign languages, customs and cultures, natural sciences and Eastern and Western history and culture. The school includes in its programme various outdoor and sports activities, as well as special interest clubs such as aircraft and automobile model making.What is most important to the school management is to develop and improve the interpersonal and leadership skills of their students thus fulfilling Lotos' ambition to be a school for decision-makers.
The First Private English Language School William Shakespeare provides specialised education in a regular, individual and independent form of study. Apart for English, there is the option to learn a second and third foreign language and a choice of taking profiled classes in the humanities or sciences. In their free time students can participate in various sports, cultural and art activities. The school maintains high education standards and is a member of the Cambridge Schools in Bulgaria.
Roerich School provides a 12-year course of study which gives the students a rare opportunity to learn foreign languages and arts from the earliest age. After 7th grade students have the opportunity to choose a major in Languages or in IT and Languages. Roerich School is not only about studying – it's about care as well. Students from 1st to 7th grade spend the full day at school, with enough time to do their lessons and to have fun.
The Meridian 22 Private High School offers the International Baccalaureate diploma programme as well as the Bulgarian national diploma. The Meridian 22 community provides the best of two educational systems and facilitates geographic and cultural mobility. Students can successfully continue their higher education across the world, with an in-depth practical knowledge of the field of their choice.
The American College of Sofia is the only high school in Bulgaria that has international and local accreditation. Founded in 1860, it is one of the oldest American educational institutions outside the United States. The College integrates the values and best practices of American teaching methods with the rich educational traditions of Bulgaria and Europe. The College aspires to prepare students to meet the most demanding criteria of any university in the world. Owing to the success of its alumni, it ranks among the most prestigious secondary schools anywhere.
The Anglo-American School of Sofia is another school with a long history and established traditions. It was founded in 1967 and is governed by a school board appointed by the US and UK ambassadors. Apart from providing an education of the highest quality, the school offers a multinational environment – over 350 students aged four to 18 from 44 countries study there. The AAS is a member of the Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA) and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). Its graduates have been accepted into a number of prestigious universities around the world, including Boston University, Bard College, the European University Barcelona, London Metropolitan University and the American University of Paris.
If you prefer your children to study outside the capital, you can opt for the American College Arcus, an international secondary school situated in the town of Veliko Tarnovo. The school teaches students following rigid academic requirements, and offers both an IB diploma programme and the Bulgarian national diploma. American College Arcus has its own school buildings and dormitories. The students enjoy both studying hard and playing hard, in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. When they finish school, students are prepared to compete for places in top universities in Bulgaria and abroad.
The Private Vocational School of Multimedia, Computer Graphics Design and Animation is for students who wish to develop specialised skills and obtain a professional qualification at an early stage. Graduates of the school can continue their education in Bulgaria or abroad or use their diplomas to start work as computer system technicians, computer animators and designers and film editors. The school is a leading participant in the STENCIL (Science Teaching European Network for Creativity and Innovation in Learning) Project and collaborates with 20 other schools from nine countries within the same project.
For energetic people with high ambitions there is never enough time to dedicate to both career and further studies. The Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, or CIPD, help in such circumstances. Their sixschools or 12-month courses will improve your career options and professional status. CMI programs are put on the European Qualifications Framework, or EQF. It is better to grab the opportunity for life-long learning CMI is giving you.
If you have the will and the time to continue your studies, you can check out the International Business School, which has developed a special English language Bachelor programme. The International Tourism Management and Consultancy Programme offers the best possible education to those who dream of a career in tourism. By choosing this course at the IBS, you will gain not only expertise that will stand you in good stead with future employers, but will also give you enough knowledge to start your own business. The IBS has an agreement with NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, which gives you the opportunity to have diplomas from two universities with one course of education. Fluent in Bulgarian? Then opt for the Bulgarian language Bachelor programmes in Business Administration, Accounting and Control or International Economics, or do a distance MA here.
If you love learning new things, but you are still not sure what exactly you want to do, why not try a foreign language? English is the lingua franca of the modern world but any other language you acquire is a treasure that cannot be taken from you. Germanic languages look like some of the hardest to learn but the professionals in NordStudeo – School for Germanic Languages make it easy. The first of its kind in Bulgaria, the school has taught Norwegian, Dutch, Danish, Finnish and Swedish since 2001. NordStudeo caters for employees and managers of corporations, embassy staff and medical specialists.
iStudy Language School is another smart choice when foreign language education is concerned. It is the only language centre offering technologically advanced learning with PC-classes, interactive whiteboards and e-books. iStudy offers language learning options even for the youngest – children can start to study a language here at the age of 5 through suitable activities as games, music, animation and drawing. The school also organises courses for pupils at the age of 10 to 14, and the elder can take preparatory courses for the TOEFL, GMAT and YELTS exams.