OECD Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education: Bulgaria
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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.
Assessment and recommendations
Over the past three decades, Bulgaria has carried out important structural reforms which, alongside accession to the European Union (EU) in 2007, have contributed to robust economic growth and improved living standards (OECD, 2021[1]). Despite these efforts, convergence towards EU and OECD income levels has been slower than in other Central and East European countries. Economic growth is concentrated in regions with large cities, exports are dominated by primary goods and poverty remains high, particularly among ethnic minorities (OECD, 2021[2]). Demographic decline is producing additional pressures, with many rural regions suffering from both depopulation and rapid ageing. Positively, Bulgaria has seen strong performance in high value-added sectors, such as information and communication technology (ICT), where labour productivity appears more than twice the average rate recorded for the non-financial business economy (OECD, 2021[2]). Continued growth in these sectors could enable Bulgaria to boost its economic competitiveness and create more highly skilled jobs but this will be contingent on reforms in a range of areas, including education and skills.
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