The Minister of Education and Science Prof. Galin Tsokov and the mayor of Karlovo, Dr. Emil Kabaivanov, discussed the possibilities for modernizing the vocational high schools in the municipality and building a more direct connection with the local industry. The meeting in the Municipality of Karlovo was also attended by the deputy mayor Anton Minev and the chairperson of the Municipal Council Donyo Todorov.
Mayor Emil Kabaivanov pointed out that the large engineering enterprises in the region have a great need for personnel and the local business is ready to assist in supporting the training and renovation of the emblematic Vocational High School “Brothers Evlogii and Hristo Georgievi”. It was established in 1925 with funds from the bequest of the two patron brothers. For many years, the high school has been among the most elite in training personnel for mechanical engineering. Currently, 207 students are studying there, of which 79 are in specialties with an expected shortage of specialists on the labor market, such as “Electric equipment of transport equipment” and “Technician in transport equipment – Motor transport equipment”.
“For the Ministry of Education and Science, it is important that training in such professions be preserved and that it receives support,” emphasized Prof. Tsokov. According to him, in this academic year the list of professions with an expected shortage of specialists on the labor market includes 84 professions, and 34,065 students are trained in them throughout the country.
Dr. Emil Kabaivanov pointed out that the desire of the municipality is also to develop training in the specialties needed by the industry and to build a direct link between education and business. The Municipal Council has requested that the ownership of the high school, which is now state-owned, be transferred to the municipality. According to him, this will enable its renovation through European funds for integrated territorial investments, and the municipality will make a firm commitment that it will not allow a merger with the vocational high school of railway transport in the municipality, nor will the two schools share a building.
Minister Galin Tsokov explained that in order to take such a step, it is necessary to follow a procedure and receive opinions from other institutions, but he is committed to getting to know the proposal in detail and to make the best decision for the benefit of the students.
Minister Galin Tsokov also visited the Center for Working with Street Children in Karlovo. In it, specialists provide activities and provide support to children who are at risk of dropping out of school or who have already fallen out of the education system. According to data from the local municipality, thanks to the work of the specialists, 90% of the children who visited the center subsequently return to school. Prof. Tsokov pointed out that this activity is directly related to the state policy and the scope mechanism for returning dropped students to the education system, and this positive experience can be useful at the national level as well.
He also visited the “First of June” kindergarten in the city and discussed with the staff the policies of the Ministry of Education and Science in relation to children’s institutions and the proposals to have pedagogues working together with nurses in nursery groups. Employees expressed satisfaction with the improvement of working conditions in kindergartens. They also questioned the need for additional internships for pre-school pedagogy students to assist staff during the summer months, as well as a reduction in the number of children that one educator is responsible for in order to provide better quality care.
