In my last message of this year, I am pleased to inform you that Bulgaria will become a member of the Agency as of January next year!
Inclusion is high on the agenda in Bulgaria. In December, the Agency took part in the 2016 Annual Inclusive Education Conference, organised by the Centre for Inclusive Education, Bulgaria, in partnership with UNICEF Bulgaria. I gave a keynote speech about inclusion in Europe and the European Union’s objectives for inclusive education. Another Agency colleague presented the outcomes of our Teacher Education for Inclusion project.
Diyan Stamatov, Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Education and Science, opened the conference and informed participants that Bulgaria will join the Agency in 2017. He emphasised that, thanks to the joint efforts of policy-makers, experts, teachers and the non-governmental sector, the new Bulgarian Pre-School and School Education Act is driven by the principle of inclusive education.
Mr Stamatov gave more details about the law enacted in August 2016. It provides for the creation of a State Standard on Inclusive Education. The law defines inclusive education principles, as well as a roadmap towards their implementation. Most importantly, it stipulates that all learners must be taught within the mainstream pre-school and school education system.
I look forward to co-operating with Bulgaria and I welcome their initiatives in this area. I hope the new year brings many opportunities for all the Agency member countries to learn from each other and work towards ensuring more inclusive education systems.
Best wishes for the holidays and a Happy New Year to all!