Around 12 000 teachers are expected to gather in the Arena Armeec hall in the Bulgarian capital on Sunday for a discussion of the forthcoming education reform.

The national teachers’ council is expected to last for hour and a half during which teachers will be informed of the new law on pre-school and school education that is set to enter into force on August 1.

The education ministry estimates that the expenses on the meeting will amount to BGN 100 000. According to the largest opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the figure will exceed BGN 500 000.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Meglena Kuneva is expected to announce that teachers are in the centre of the education reform. According to her, teachers should be encouraged and such meetings should be held once every two years.

The event will be unveiled by Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, while the mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, is expected to deliver a statement.

There will be also a video message by European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, former educations ministers and MPs have also been invited to attend the council. Deputy Education Minister Diyan Stamatov will outline the main details of the reform.