Ambitious, energetic, successful – this is what sets apart private education in Bulgaria
Only fifteen years ago, studying in a private school was an inaccessible privilege for the majority of Bulgarians. The education system looked down upon it as a caprice of parents who didn't know where to spend their money. But for the past ten years, while reforms in the state education have slowed to a crawl, Bulgarian private schools and universities have flourished. The number of students in private education rises steadily from year to year. Recent changes in law have granted private schools subsidy from the state budget for education and put them on par with the public schools in the system.
Among the strongest advantages of private education are the lower student-teacher ratio, individualised programmes and extracurricular activities. This, together with motivated and highly-qualified teachers, has turned Bulgarian private schools into a preferred education path.
Studying foreign languages is a priority for the Bulgarian private schools, which achieve excellent results by working with qualified foreign teachers. ESPA School, one of the best in its field, works in cooperation with one of the most prestigious education institutions in Britain – Cambridge Education Group. Each year during the spring holidays ESPA holds a two-week language course by the programme of English in Action. The additional 30 hours a week with teachers from Britain help the children cover successfully the language level of C1 Expert. The course includes interactive and entertaining methods, games and project work, giving students a chance to develop their communicative language skills.
Some of the newly-established private schools carry the old traditions of Bulgarian education – worldliness, depth and diversity. Private school Lotos is such an example, having been founded by Professor Mihail Petrov. Interpersonal relations between pupils and teachers shape up the process of learning all the way from primary to high school, while the curriculum combines European standards with Eastern language studies and martial arts training. The competent education team strives to provide a great experience for the students, creating a special atmosphere of respect and etiquette.
Whether you are looking for a suitable preschool class or a supportive environment for your middle-school child, Drujba schools are an excellent option. The network of five educational institutions includes a high school in Sofia, a school in Plovdiv and educational centres, all of which take care to address the full potential of the individual. Language studies are essential in all Drujba schools – the high school in Sofia offers instruction in English, German and Turkish, with the natural sciences module being taught through English. Students take part in many extracurricular activities designed to diversify their school life, such as theatre, table tennis, volleyball, chess, interest clubs and sports competitions, along with trips both in Bulgaria and abroad. The caring atmosphere and good infrastructure enhance their learning experience, and university application courses help them prepare for their future path.
If your child prefers arts, this doesn't mean that his or her education will suffer. Provide your child with a competitive level of knowledge with the private school for arts and languages Artis – the only one in Bulgaria to combine arts education and a language school. Pupils in the first grades can get both a Bulgarian and Italian document for graduating from the class, while all students can receive English language certificates for exams in the school itself. The Artis diploma equals those of an English language school and arts lyceum, ensuring enrolment to students at universities all over the world – Oxford, Edinburgh, Warsaw, Tokyo, Milan and Vienna, or direct access to the sophomore year at New Bulgarian University.
The St Sofia private school has pupils aged 6 to 13, and it stresses on the emotional development of the children as well as the academic. To that purpose, a lot of sports are on the offer – football, basketball, volleyball, tennis and chess – and arts are part of the curriculum too, with drawing, music, theatre and dancing available to choose from. The basic subjects such as Bulgarian, English and maths correspond to the requirements of the Ministry of Education and the students enjoy the help of qualified teachers when preparing to continue their education at high school.
Nowadays children need to learn love for knowledge early on, and this is exactly what Euro Lyceum aims to foster in them. This is the first school in Sofia to offer the British National Curriculum. Starting from kindergarten to the end of secondary school, the school offers the children the opportunity to study according to the British educational system and to be up to date with the British standards and sit on exams recognised all over the world. The school culture promotes teamwork cooperation between students.
Higher education on British standards is closer than you think. University of Sheffield, one of the top 100 universities in the world, offers first-class bachelor and master degrees in partnership between its international faculty CITY College and the Sofia Higher School of Insurance and Finance (HSIF). Bachelors in business accounting and finance, management or marketing study for three years in Sofia and one year at CITY College in Thessaloniki, Greece, while those enrolled for the various master degrees of the university study entirely at the modern campus of the HSIF in Sofia on timetables suitable for working professionals. All programmes are taught in English, and certificates are issued by both the University of Sheffield and the HSIF.
Take down the barriers to satisfying communication with a course in Bulgarian. The Department for Language Teaching and International Students (DLTIS) to the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski specialises in teaching Bulgarian language for foreigners. Besides international students, expats living in Bulgaria and foreigners applying for citizenship also partake in the courses. With the tests for a level of command of Bulgarian language you can get a certificate. DLTIS is the only educational institution in Bulgaria which is a full member of the Association of Language Testers in Europe.
When looking for perspective specialisation, pay attention to Culinary Academy HRC at International University College, a leading culinary institute in Eastern Europe. The focus of the programme is firmly on practice. The two-year training is carried out entirely in English and includes over 12 months of internships in hotels and restaurants in Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and the United States. The students of the Academy come from over 15 countries to receive knowledge in first-class environment and modern professional kitchens by certified instructors and teachers coming from different nationalities with international experience. At the one and only high-class training restaurant in the country, Talents Restaurant, students develop their culinary and restaurant managing skills during their third semester of training.
If you have so far believed that musical instruments are only accessible to the few chosen ones, RockSchool will change your mind. The music school teaches students from 3 to 55 years the secrets of rock, metal, blues, jazz, pop, flamenco and classical music. Everything is easy and interesting thanks to the flexible teaching methods and the friendly atmosphere. Thanks to the qualified teachers with music education and rich experience you will learn to play the guitar, bass guitar, drums or piano, as well as sing in various styles – including heavy metal. At RockSchool you will find many soul mates, who have made their dream to sing or play come true. If you desire to perform in front of an audience – RockSchool live concerts will help you feel the thrill on stage.