Background

Varna is the biggest cultural, educational and economic centre in northeast Bulgaria. More than 50 000 students in primary and secondary education study there; students in universities are around 40 000 in 5 Higher Education Institutions. There is an extremely diverse and dynamic network of standard and specialized schools, colleges, qualification centres for lecturers. It comes without saying that the new millennium has put forward a common issue: seeking the answer to a major challenge education of XXI century unity between old traditions, new trends and European dimensions. The common experience shows that successful educational reforms rely primarily on real achievements and certain commitments of local communities, not on the pressure from inside or outside factors.

In this context the Municipality initiated the idea of organizing a prestigious forum, entitled Humanism and pragmatism in education of 21 century . Bulgaria, as a country applying for membership in the European Union, has to harmonize its educational curricula with the European ones. This conference has become a meeting point for exchanging ideas and successful practices of education professionals from the European twin-towns of Varna.

Practice

The Education and Youth Activities Directorate at Varna Municipality created an overall concept and program of the event. Featured topics were: positive management in education, alternative forms of training, education for children with specific needs, career consulting and education, multicultural approach in modern education ethnic tolerance.

Information materials were prepared a brochure and multimedia product for education in Varna; and a web site for the event was also developed. After a dynamic media campaign, the Conference provoked public opinion into a wide local and national debate about secondary education. The exciting moment was combining the scientific approach (lectures, reports, plenary sessions and different seminars) with practical educational activities. For instance, in career consulting discussions, the Labour Bureau had a significant role along with Careers Information Centre, and representatives of professional syndicates. An exhibition of all publishing houses for education-supporting books and materials Prosveta , Anubis , Letera , was organized. Participants from the twin-town of Varna Doerdrecht, the Netherlands, took part in all plenary sessions and discussion groups. They were most interested in the Education for children with special needs topic and integration of minority groups. The guests from Doerdrecht were not only participating; they transformed the forum into a live presentation of the Dutch city. Many contacts were established for future partnerships between schools, NGO s and local authorities. These were guaranteed by personal commitment of the deputy mayor of Doerdrecht, Mrs Herda Bosdris and by the Bulgarian side. The conference program include a number of visits of schools, nursery schools, careers information centers; meetings between Dutch professionals with school communities, united in the effort of establishing partnership networks. The youth section consisted of pupils from various schools in Varna who have a significant contribution to the conference event. They were active participants in all discussions along with their lecturers. Participation of representatives from the twin-towns of Varna, the hot topic of education and the creation of powerful environment for intense dialogue and sharing experiences of twin municipalities were all factors that led to winning funding support for the project from the EU Twinning Program.

Results

- A memorandum of participants in the international conference Humanism and pragmatism in education of 21 century has been adopted, as well as a memorandum of the youth section Education for us .
- A decision was adopted for the Conference to take place every two years in Varna.
- Amendments to texts in the Education Act were adopted and subsequently officially presented before the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Education.
- Relationships between the two twin-towns Varna and Doerdrecht have been reinforced and widened with a new content. Many further projects for education, culture and social activities are about to be launched.