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Bulgarian schools abroad turn into research centers for Bulgarian history and culture

Veliko Tarnovo will host the annual conference of the Association of Bulgarian Schools abroad on July 22-24
Photo: Bulgarian school Rome and Florence

"These schools write or restore the history of Bulgaria. Extremely valuable products have been born in recent years. This is a base that can now be used by researchers in Bulgaria and abroad," says Dr. Maya Padeshka - member of the Board of the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad, a few days before the annual meeting of the non-governmental organization, in which, together with Prof. Tsenka Ivanova, they will be moderators of the panel: "Presentation of Bulgarian cultural heritage and literature in schools abroad".


The forum will be held between July 22 and 24 in Veliko Tarnovo and is dedicated to creativity, play and extracurricular activities. 

"The topic may seem fun and light, but this is a serious part of our work as teachers," explains Dr. Padeshka, who teaches Bulgarian at the University of Naples "Orientale" and is a director and teacher at the Bulgarian school "Assen and Iliya Peykovi" in Rome:

"A large part of the children attending our schools have Bulgarian as a second or foreign language, and learning through play and extracurricular activities is an integral part of the overall work of teachers. This is a special educational context in which teachers must also be creative, inventive and active. That is why this year the conference is being held together with the festival of the Association of Folklore Ensembles Abroad. There is great interest in them. Not only children are involved, but also parents. It is precisely these extracurricular activities that are an integral part of learning the Bulgarian language in a natural environment."



There are three national programs of the Ministry of Education and Science, oriented towards the development of the Bulgarian language and culture abroad – "Native Language and Culture Abroad", "Untold Stories of Bulgarians" and "Bulgarian Educational Routes". Dr. Padeshka explains:


"Our schools are intended for studying Bulgarian language, literature and culture abroad, but they are also centers that attract the interest of the local community, and we work with prominent Bulgarians from this diaspora. Thus, gradually the educational institutions have turned into research centers, and our students have become young researchers. The programs have given them the opportunity to delve deeper into their relationship with history and Bulgarian traces abroad. I can boldly say that these schools are writing or restoring the history of Bulgaria, Bulgarian culture and Bulgarian immigration. 


Exceptionally valuable products have been born in the form of films, exhibitions, etc. - a base that can be used by researchers in Bulgaria and abroad. We have an idea, together with prominent Bulgarian scientists living in Italy, to organize a scientific forum for history teachers in Bulgaria and in Bulgarian Sunday schools abroad in March next year, to tell about the valuable discoveries of the archaeological museum in Campobasso, related to the Bulgarians of Alcek."

The annual meeting of the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev, and is hosted by the Veliko Tarnovo University "St. Cyril and Methodius", which has been helping Bulgarian schools abroad and Bulgarian language lecturers at universities for years. And despite the fact that a solution to some administrative problems is still to be found, Dr. Padeshka is categorical:


"If I may put it figuratively, the Bulgarian school abroad has already experienced its childhood and youth. These are mature organizations, serious educational and cultural institutions, which we must now take seriously and responsibly."

Radio Bulgaria - the multilingual program of the Bulgarian National Radio, is a media partner of the annual meeting of the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad.



English publication: R. Petkova
Photos: Bulgarian school Rome and Florence, Veneta Nenkova

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