September 15 is the traditional first school day for primary and secondary schools in Bulgaria and Wednesday marks the start of school year 2010-2011.

Some 60,000 school students are going to study in Bulgaria's around 3,100 schools this year.

The school year opens amid serious worries of underfunding of Bulgarian education and lack of commitment on the part of the state, which has traditionally been the main, if not only supporter of education in the country.

Budget cuts have more severely hit higher education, as universities and colleges face up to 50% percent less finances for 2010, with no increases previewed 2011-3.

At the same time, there is a persisent worry that the classes coming out of high school are inadequately prepared for college or work. Teacher salaries are notoriously low.

Recent demographic trends make it that less and less students enroll in schools every year. To optimize spending, schools with few students have been closing across the country since the 00s, which has contributed to the disparities in regional development.

Amid underfunding of state schools and university, the government also currently mulls controversial amendments in the laws on school and university education which may introduce the possibility of state funding for private institutions.

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