Bulgaria and Slovakia will annually exchange students, doctoral students, researchers and teachers. For the period of their studies, students and doctoral students will receive scholarships. This is done under the Programme for cooperation in the field of education and science between the two countries. The document was signed today by Minister Galin Tsokov and his Slovak counterpart Tomas Drucker in Bratislava.
The ministers of the two countries agreed that they will support the teaching of Slovak language and literature and Bulgarian language and literature in their higher schools. According to the signed programme, there will be one professor each of Bulgarian language and literature at the Comenius University in Bratislava and the University of Prešov. Accordingly, one teacher each for Slovak language and literature will have the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Cyril and Methodius”.
Also, students and teachers from both countries will participate in summer courses in Slovak and Bulgarian language, Slovak and Slavic studies.
The two countries will also cooperate in the field of vocational education and training and the implementation of European policies in this area. Bulgaria and Slovakia are expected to exchange experience in dual training and in the creation of coordination frameworks for vocational education and training.
Minister Tsokov and the Minister of Education, Scientific Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic Tomas Druker also agreed to support the development of the Bulgarian school “Hristo Botev” in Bratislava.
The two also held a meeting where they discussed Slovakia’s experience with free higher education. Minister Tsokov also presented the way in which the Mechanism for coverage and inclusion of children in schools in Bulgaria functions. The two agreed to exchange experience in this field and to look for opportunities for partnership within European projects.
The signed programme will be implemented until the end of 2028 and is based on the existing Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Education, Science and Culture between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Slovak Republic.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Slovak Republic Vasil Petkov took part in the meeting.
