Bulgarians break the law for an education
Share
The quality of Bulgaria's education system been in decline since the fall of Communism, leaving some dissatisfied parents determined to pursue alternatives such as home schooling - even if this puts them on the wrong side of the law.
Under Communism, Bulgaria boasted an efficient, well-funded if somewhat impersonal school system. But since the changes of 1989-90, the education system has been in gradual decline.
Last month, one education expert made the headline by claiming that 50% of high school leavers did not know basic grammar and spelling rules, making them effectively "illiterate".
While the authorities might dispute this figure, new Education Minister Sergey Ignatov recognized the need for change - promising reform and saying that a brand new high school curriculum would be released in 2010.
Meanwhile, a small but growing minority of parents, like the Sokolovi family from near Sofia, are looking for what they believe are better ways to educate their children - including taking matters into their own hands.
Magi Sokolovi explains why she decided to teach her own children: "There are many reasons why we're home schooling. One of them is the state of the education in Bulgaria now. Also, we think that school isn't the best place for learning. Older children especially, go there just to socialise."
The only problem is that the Sokolovi's solution is illegal, although many people are calling for the law should be changed. Until there is any change to the law, such families will run the risk of a hefty fine.
For more in our European education series see:
