[1]The Minister of Tourism, Miroslav Borshosh, initiated a meeting between the Minister of Education and Science, Krasimir Valchev, and representatives of the Association of Vocational High Schools in Tourism. The meeting focused on the proposed concept for changes in the high school curricula, which would also affect vocational schools in the field of tourism. Both ministers emphasized that the ongoing dialogue will continue in partnership with businesses and educational institutions in order to find the most suitable long-term solutions. According to them, the development of the tourism sector requires well-trained professionals, which can be achieved through a balanced and sustainable educational policy.
“I want to make it clear — there will be no changes in the number of vocational training hours for this school year. The current curricula will remain unchanged, and the proposed amendments are still at a conceptual stage and would apply, at the earliest, from the 2026–2027 academic year. The most important goal is to find a balanced approach that combines vocational and general education while ensuring good professional realization for young people,” said Minister Miroslav Borshosh.
Minister Krasimir Valchev clarified that the materials published are for preliminary discussion only and do not constitute a final version or draft regulatory document. He added that the Ministry of Education and Science, together with schools, will seek to balance vocational and general education so as to align a wide range of competencies with labor market requirements. It was stressed that practical training is not expected to be reduced.
Representatives of the Association of Vocational High Schools in Tourism expressed their concerns that any potential reduction in hours for vocational subjects would undermine students’ professional preparation. They emphasized the importance of specialized education for maintaining the quality of the tourism workforce. They also confirmed their readiness to participate in expert discussions aimed at finding a balanced solution that would ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of tourism-focused vocational schools.