About 63 000 kids are starting school for the first time in Bulgaria on Thursday, September 15th, 2011, traditionally the first day of the academic year.

About 10 000 of the 63 000 first-graders starting school on September 15 are in Sofia, according to the Education Ministry.

About 60 000 born in 2003 started school in Bulgaria last year, with the higher 2011 number reflecting the slight increase in the birthrate that the country saw after 2001, with the number of newborn kids peaking at more than 80 000 in 2009.

September 15 is the traditional first school day for about 3 100 primary and secondary schools in Bulgaria.

The academic year is being opened with much excitement and special ceremonies all across the country, with the participation of government ministers and other senior officials, local authorities, and foreign diplomats.

School is also starting in Bulgaria's prisons where 1550 inmates are enrolled for the 2011-2012 academic year. 252 of those will be in first grade.