Bulgaria's Cabinet approved during its regular Thursday meeting significant changes in the education sector.

The Ministers adopted amendments in the Public Education Act, including part of the reforms that the Parliament rejected earlier.

Beginning the new school year students will be mandated to wear appropriate attire and will receive grades for their behavior while those with more serious violations will be required to perform community service. Students in elementary grades (1 to 4) will not have to repeat the school year over poor grades.

Schools will have the option to make their own decisions about mandatory uniforms.

According to Education Minister, Daniel Valchev, poor behavior grades would not lead to poor academic ones. The number of allowed unexcused absences remains unchanged.

The issue about religious symbols display in public schools was not included in the newly adopted amendments and will have to be approved or rejected by the new Parliament.