The Ministry of Education will make sense of the free time of students with military training
Military training for high school students, care for soldiers, interviews with heirs of participants in the wars. These are part of the activities provided by the National Program « Study and Preservation of the Traditions and History of the Bulgarian Army » with a total budget of BGN 350 thousand, which the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) proposes to continue to be implemented in the next school year.
The Education Development Programs in 2025 are expected to support the basic educational policies implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science, including policies for promoting the inclusive nature of education; Access to education of all children and students with a focus on vulnerable groups, etc.
In his report, Minister Krasimir Valchev motivated the proposal to continue the program, claiming that it was being implemented with « great interest from the students ».
For patriotic upbringing
The description of the program begins with the fact that patriotic upbringing is part of the educational process that aims to form a person from a young age. « Patriotism is a love for the Motherland and a desire to protect it, admiration for national achievements, attachment to native land, language and traditions, » the description said.
It is added that one of the important tasks of Bulgarian education is to help build a stable value system in adolescents, in which « patriotism occupies a special place ».
« It is necessary to build views that will increase in the student the motivation to participate in activities that will strengthen his sense of belonging to his school and to educate him as a citizen of Bulgaria. On the other hand, the involvement of the imagination of the students undoubtedly assists in their physical, intellectual and personal development, » the program said.
It contains two modules:
- development of school projects related to the study of the historical past of the Bulgarian Army;
- National Forum on the topic « Introducing students to military affairs and with the glorious historical past of the Bulgarian army and sharing good practices ».
The activities are aimed at students from 8th to 12th grade.
| The first module is organized and funded by the Ministry of Education and Science. The aim is to build school traditions related to the preservation of the historical memory of the Bulgarian army and to the upbringing in patriotism. |
As specific goals for the school project module dedicated to the army, the MES states:
- the formation of civic engaged personalities involved in the values of a democratic society;
- « Thinking of students’ free time » with activities that support intellectual, spiritual, moral and physical growth;
- Strengthening the students’ interest in the history and achievements of the Bulgarian army.
The budget of the first module is BGN 100 thousand. State and municipal schools in which high school students are studying, but educational institutions are admitted, which received funding in 2024. At that time, 47 schools were approved.
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Students will have to gather information related to specific personalities and/or monuments dedicated to the « martial glory » of the army, and in the settlement or the area in which the school is located. Among the possible activities are interviews with heirs of participants in the wars for national unification, care for soldiers, visits to museums and cultural and historical sites, development of information materials (newspaper, boards, flyers, etc.) or a site related to the historical past of the army.
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Each school can apply with only one project under the program with a maximum value of BGN 2 thousand.
Military training
The second module of the National Program is to hold a National Forum for Training and for the presentation of good practices of students participating in the activities of the first module, on the topic « introducing students to military affairs and with the glorious historical past of the Bulgarian army and sharing good practices ». The module is organized and funded by the Ministry of Defense.
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The forum will be held in the summer of 2025 at the National Military University « Vasil Levski » in Veliko Turnovo. It will participate 350 students and leaders from 35 schools. These are the beneficiaries of the 2024/2025 program.
| The aim is to upgrade the knowledge of the history of the Bulgarian army and to acquire the necessary initial knowledge and skills in military training. |
The activities are related to types of specific military training, military topography and history. The results of the module are the acquired initial knowledge and skills in military training – for the rules of communication in military structures, for different types of military means, etc., to upgrade students’ knowledge of significant dates and events of military history. Students are expected to develop their leadership skills, their ability to work as a team, to be able to provide first medical attention, and more.
| For the 2025/2026 school year, the money for this module will be BGN 50 thousand more than this year – BGN 250 thousand. |
The Ministry of Education ranks schools for their participation in the forum for the training and presentation of good practices of students, who will with the National Military University in Veliko Tarnovo in 2026. The requirements for students is to be healthy, which should be certified by a medical note.
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