1. Bulgarian Educational System

2. The school year in Bulgaria starts on September 15 and ends in May-June.It comprises two terms-from September to January and from February to May -June.There are 4 holidays- in the winter,between the terms,in the spring and in the summer. There are 5 school days,the lessons last 35 min.for 1st -2nd grade;40 min. for 3rd-4th grade and 45 min.for 5th-12th grade.

3. The structure of Educational system in Bulgaria comprises the following levels:Pre-school education,Secondary education (including basic and secondary education ) and Higher education. Pre-school education includes children from the age 3 to the age 6-7.Nursery school attendance is optional.There are municipal and private nurseries.

4. Basic education comprises two stages: first stage from 1st to 4th grade and second stage from 5th to 8th grade. School children who successfully completed the 1st stage of basic education are awarded a form 4th leaving certificate. Completion of Basic education is attested by a final certificate at the end of 8th grade.

5. Secondary education lasts for 4-5 years after completion of Basic education and is provided in 3 types of schools: comprehensive (general secondary ) schools; profile -oriented schools and vocational (technical) schools. In the Secondary comprehensive schools the duration of studies is 4 years. In the Profile-oriented schools the duration of studies is 4-5 years. The students can attend the profile-oriented secondary schools after passing the entrance exams (the last ones can be Bulgarian, Maths, Arts, etc.). There are Profile-oriented schools where are studied foreign languages intensively. After a successful completion of secondary education and passing written matriculation examinations a Diplom of Secondary/Secondary Specialised Education is issued. Admission to Higher education institutions

6. Secondary education lasts for 4-5 years after completion of Basic education and is provided in 3 types of schools: comprehensive (general secondary) schools; profile - oriented schools and vocational (technical) schools. In the Secondary comprehensive schools the duration of studies is 4 years. In the Profile-oriented schools the duration of studies is 4-5 years. The students can attend the profile-oriented secondary schools after passing the entrance exams (the last ones can be Bulgarian, Maths, Arts, etc.). There are Profile - oriented schools where are studied foreign languages intensively. After a successful completion of secondary education and passing written matriculation examinations a Diplom of Secondary/Secondary Specialised Education is issued. Admission to Higher education institutions (universities, academies, institutes and colleges) is based on successful entrance examination. The Secondary education in Bulgaria is free and compulsory until the age 16.When the students have more than 5 absences without reason, they are punished by remark, warning of transfer in other school and transfer.