Education System in Bulgaria

Primary	Basic First Stage	1–4	7–10	4	Grade IV Leaving Certificate - Natchalno utchilischte
Secondary	Basic Second Stage	5–8	10–14	4	Progimnazialno utchilichte
Secondary	Profilirani Gimnazii (form IX to XII - Vocational Secondary)	9–12	15–19	4
Secondary	Professionalni gimnazii I/ili technikumil (Vocational Secondary Education)		15–19	4	Diploma za Zavurcheno Sredno Obrazovanie (Diploma of Completed Secondary Education) and Certificate of Professional Qualification.
Secondary	Professionalni utchilichta (Vocational Secondary)		15–19	4	Diploma za Zavurcheno Sredno Obrazovanie (Diploma of Completed Secondary Education) and Certificate of Professional Qualification
Secondary	Secondary Education	9–12	14–19	4	Gimnazii - Diploma za Zavurcheno Sredno Obrazovanie (Diploma of Completed Secondary Education)
Post-secondary	Technical/Vocational School			3	Non university-level post-secondary education generally consists of a 3-year course of study after completion of secondary education and leads to the qualification of Specialist in different fields.
Tertiary	Bachelor			4	Bakalavr: University level first stage
Tertiary	Master			5–6	Magistr - 5/6 years: University level second stage
Tertiary	Doctorate			3–6	Doktor: Obtained on the basis of individual research and after the defense of a thesis - University Level Third Stage
Tertiary	Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers			4	Professional qualification of teacher
Tertiary	Training of secondary school teachers			4	University or some Academies of Arts with special training in teaching

Primary Education

In Bulgaria, education is compulsory between ages 7 to 16 and free in state owned schools. The ministry of education has prescribed an evolving academic curriculum throughout, consisting of Bulgarian (language and literature), foreign languages, information technologies, maths, natural sciences, social sciences & civics, physical education and sport. Children must attend a one-year pre-school program before embarking on 4 years of primary school.

Middle Education

The final 4 years of elementary education take place at junior high school, where a certificate of elementary education must be obtained before proceeding further at any Bulgarian school.

Secondary Education

There are two secondary education alternatives, namely comprehensive high schools and vocational schools. Pupils must remain at least until age 16. When graduating from the former they must take examinations in Bulgarian, and another subject of their choice.

Vocational Education

Vocational training outside the school system suffers from a high degree of centralization but is currently being reformed. Primary impediments include the absence of an integrated framework, and the capacity of an institutionalized system.

Tertiary Education

Higher education facilities include specialized higher schools, colleges and universities. At universities, undergraduate programs take at least 4 years to complete, and may be complemented by masters degrees and even doctorates. The oldest university was founded in 1888 and is known fully as the Saint Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia.

The main edifice depicted here was paid for by 2 brothers, whose faces appear on its facade.

Resources:

Ministry of Education, Youth and Science