Education is top priority for the Cabinet, Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, reiterated for the third time in the last three days.

Speaking at a ceremony to hand 39 contracts for BGN 22 M to educators and scientists, held Monday at the Sheraton hotel in Sofia, Borisov noted BGN 30 M are going to be spent on online education of young scientists. He added PhD candidates "would receive BGN 14 M or BGN 20 000 each to do their science."

The funds come from the EU Operational Program Human Resources Development for 2007-2013 г.

Borisov was accompanied by Social Policy and Labor Minister, Totyu Mladenov, and Education Minister, Sergey Ignatov

"I hope all this will multiply in time and give results. More money for science, education, teachers – this is our policy. Our predecessors mocked striking teachers, people must choose carefully in the upcoming election. We are building highways, but we are also building the highways of the mind," the PM stressed.

The Institute for Astronomy with the National Observatory on Rozhen peak in the Rhodoppe mountains also received a contract, which came on the heels of news the Rozhen Observatory is facing closure over the lack of funding.

When giving the contract to scientists and researchers from the Institute, Borisov scolded them, saying "he keeps hearing times and times again the telescope will be closed, but it keeps functioning."

Astronomers, meanwhile, told reporters the contract is only for the support of young scientists, not for budget maintenance of the observatory, which needs BGN 200 000 a year.

The Sofia University and the Technical University received the largest amounts in their contracts.

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