On 25 January 2022, the OECD Council decided to open accession discussions with Bulgaria. On 10 June 2022, the Council adopted the Roadmap for the accession of Bulgaria to the OECD Convention [C/MIN(2022)22/FINAL] (the Roadmap) setting out the terms, conditions and process for accession to the OECD. The Roadmap provides that in order to allow the Council to take an informed decision on the accession of Bulgaria, Bulgaria will undergo in-depth reviews by OECD technical committees listed in the Roadmap, including the Education Policy Committee.
In the decades since its shift to a market-based, parliamentary democracy, Bulgaria has launched significant initiatives to expand access to education, modernise instruction, and raise outcomes, with backing from national and European Union investments. From making early childhood education compulsory from age 4 to introducing competence-based curricula at several education levels and streamlining processes to recognise prior learning to facilitate access to adult learning, Bulgaria’s agenda aims to equip all learners with the competences to succeed in a fast-changing world. These efforts are embedded in broader national priorities of economic development, demographic upswing, and inequality reduction.
Yet, Bulgaria, like most countries, faces challenges in translating its policy objectives into practice. The split early childhood education and care system, similar to many OECD countries, poses challenges to achieving Bulgaria’s vision of better integrated services for children from birth to entry into primary school. Learning outcomes of students nearing the end of compulsory education remain low by international standards, especially for socio-economically disadvantaged children. Progress in raising attainment and labour market participation has been uneven, especially for those with low levels of education, rural, and/or ethnic minority backgrounds. Skills mismatches, alongside low uptake of adult learning, also need to be addressed if growth is to be sustained.
Bulgaria’s current reform agenda is well-positioned to address the country’s education and skills challenges. As this report highlights, modernising vocational education and training (VET), increasing professional post-secondary options, and facilitating access to adult learning can help address skill mismatches. Continuing Bulgaria’s efforts to professionalise teaching, by enhancing pedagogical skills and aligning pay with performance, will help translate intended curricula into classroom practice. At the same time, expanding outreach efforts and support to disadvantaged students could bring more of them into schools earlier and help them stay for longer. Success will depend on building trust and capacity for evidence-informed policymaking across the system, with stronger co-ordination and stakeholder engagement.
This report was prepared to support the accession review discussion of the Education Policy Committee with Bulgaria. It draws on OECD research and international experience to explore how Bulgaria can build on its reform efforts to deliver on the twin goals of quality and equity in education and training. It assesses Bulgaria’s education and skills policies across the full learning lifecycle - from early childhood education and care through to tertiary education and adult learning – using five principles that underpin effective education systems:
A strong focus on improving learning outcomes.
Equity in educational opportunity.
The capacity to collect and use data to inform policy.
The effective use of funding to support improvement.
Inclusive, multi-stakeholder engagement in policy design and implementation.
In accordance with Paragraph 28 of the Roadmap and upon request of Bulgaria, the Education Policy Committee agreed to declassify this report and publish it under the authority of the Secretary-General, in order to allow a wider audience to become acquainted with its content. Publication of this document and the analysis and recommendations contained therein do not prejudge in any way the outcome of evaluations conducted as part of Bulgaria’s accession process to the OECD.
The analysis recognises Bulgaria’s achievements to date and offers concrete recommendations to help translate policy ambitions into sustained progress. Above all, we hope this report will support Bulgaria in building an education and skills system that delivers excellence and opportunity for all.
Andreas Schleicher,
Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General,
OECD Director for Education and Skills