Support for high-performing students from vulnerable groups

The results of a study by the Teach for Bulgaria Foundation on successful practices in schools with a high concentration of students from vulnerable groups were presented at a special event titled “The Standout Students of the National External Evaluation Exams We Don’t Talk About”. The project was conducted in partnership with the Institute of Education at the Ministry of Education and Science.

The study focused on schools operating under challenging conditions but playing a key role in the real educational progress of their students. In addition to using data from the national external assessment after seventh grade, the analysis included field research in six schools, involving interviews with principals, teachers, and educational mediators, as well as classroom observations.

The Executive Director of Teach for Bulgaria, Trayan Trayanov, believes that being a top student is easy if you have a calm home environment, parents who help with homework, and access to a private tutor when needed. It is much harder to excel when these conditions are not present. “In that case, the teacher, their approach, and attitude are crucial to how much a child will learn”, Trayan Trayanov says.

According to him, these schools are among the most significant examples of meaningful change in the system. According to the team of Teach for Bulgaria, they are the true high achievers in the educational system. The principals, teachers, and mediators there work under difficult conditions, but with dedication and smart approaches, they change the life opportunities of their students.

Edited by Tsvetana Toncheva

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov