OECD Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education: Bulgaria
Over the past three decades, Bulgaria has carried out important structural reforms which have helped the country reach higher levels of socio-economic development. However, long-standing social disparities and income inequalities remain and Bulgaria’s overall productivity gains have not fully translated into sustainable and inclusive growth. In this context, the country holds education as key to improve the nation’s future economic potential and increase the quality of life of its population. For example, the national development strategy, Bulgaria 2030, sets out an ambitious reform plan that identifies the importance of raising learning outcomes and addressing inequities in order to sustain socioeconomic growth. This review provides recommendations on how evaluation and assessment in Bulgaria’s education system can support the country in reaching its goals.
Making student assessment an integral part of student learning
Bulgaria’s Pre-school and School Education Act (2016) introduced a new competency-based curriculum, new learning standards and more formative approaches to assessing students, including the use of start-of-year diagnostic tests and the implementation of qualitative marking. However, while these policies have the potential to enhance learning, changes in school and classroom assessment practices have been slow to implement and the country’s high-stakes selection and examinations culture continues to reinforce the perception of student assessment as a primarily summative exercise. This chapter recommends tangible steps Bulgaria can take to use assessment as a means to improve teaching and learning.
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