Bulgaria

www.boostskills.eu

National landscape

In the last few years, a number of thorough discussions have taken place regarding basic competencies every person should have. The results of these discussions outline specific competencies considered essential and important for the holistic development of a person as both a human being and professional. Bulgaria is no exception when it comes to this, and the public’s attention increasingly focuses on education system results. There is consensus between the business sector, the government, and the civil sector for the need to shape educational competencies for successful realisation in students. Specifically, the Law for Preschool and School Education regulates the inclusion of nine key competency groups as part of general education. These include digital competencies, learning skills, initiative and entrepreneurship, communication skills in a foreign language, social and civic competences, and others. This is a fundamental step in the right direction, leading to significant changes in almost all other educational system elements such as state educational standards, teacher training and qualifications, the role and content of textbooks, mechanisms for assessing student performance, and the education system as a whole.

The worldwide pandemic accelerated green, digital transitions and posed new challenges to the professional development of many people: who are forced to learn new skills or improve pre-existing ones in order to adapt to the rapidly changing labour market. As an important task of the Employment Agency, skills development sets out to support workforce preparations for the post-crisis labour market. New structural trends require raising qualifications and retraining and improving skills (including digital) among both unemployed and employed workers.

A proactive approach will include forecasting skills needs and strengthening skills in close cooperation with labour market stakeholders. This also includes identifying growing sectors and sought-after occupations and ensuring appropriate career guidance for the workforce, including through career centers.

The State enterprise “Bulgarian-German Center for Vocational Training” provides an opportunity to conduct additional courses for a longer duration of time in professions lacking a sufficient, suitable staff. In addition to training programmes utilised to acquire professional qualifications and key competencies, the company also conducts adult educator trainings for teachers in vocational high schools or vocational training centers and mentors within companies.

Within the context of the new European Skills Agenda for Sustainable Competitiveness, Social Justice, and Sustainability—which focuses on enhancing digital skills and creating solid training conditions for such skills—other key competencies, such as “digital competence” trainings, were also financed in 2021. These will improve digital skills among the unemployed, a tremendous value for the future. In 2021, small, micro, and medium-sized enterprises once again had the opportunity to apply for the inclusion of their employees in key competency acquisition training. Employers have a commitment to uphold the employment of those who successfully complete the training for a period of no shorter than 6 months.

Recommendations for improvement

One main priority of active labour market policy is to provide conditions and employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed, in line with the EU Council Recommendation on integrating long-term unemployed workers within the labour market. “The program for training and employment of the long-term unemployed” is implemented to increase the employability of persons by including them in training, leading to increased knowledge and skills. The programme was valid until 31.12.2021, but based on programme monitoring and implementation evaluation, its validity can be extended.

The Refugee Employment and Training programme supports the labour market integration of foreigners granted refugee or humanitarian status in the current year or in the previous two calendar years by increasing their employability through inclusion in Bulgarian language training, training for acquiring professional qualification, and providing subsidised employment.

The Career Start programme aims to provide employment opportunities for unemployed young people who have graduated from higher education, in order to facilitate the transition between education and employment as well as achieve a flexible combination of knowledge, skills, and experience that meets market economy requirements.

Sources

1. http://edu2030.bg

2. https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice/content/national-reforms-related-transversal-skills-and-employability-9_bg