First National Meeting for Development Education in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Platform for International Development (BPID) organized the First national meeting for Development education on 12th and 13th of September 2012. The event was funded in the framework of 3 projects of BPID and its members - ““Strengthening the activities of DEAR working group within BPID”, funded by TRIALIOG, “Getting to know” and “Global education without borders” funded by EC.

Representative from the Ministry of Education, NGOs, members of the platform active in the field of development education, teachers and students participated in the meeting. The first day of the conference had 45 participants and was moderated and led by Nadya Boneva – chair of the DEAR WG within BPID. After the opening ceremony, Holly Ringland, lecturer from the University of Manchester, gave a key note speech titled “Development education as a necessity in the modern school”. Further, Lilia Krasteva presented the definitions and principles in the development education and the global education. Liuba Batembergska presented the global education within school curriculum on Bulgarian school, including its opportunities and challenges. Further, Nadya Boneva presented the Development education practices in the EU and the work of the DARE forum within CONCORD. Teachers from partnering schools presented some of the good practices in development education already implemented at schools. Finally, the round table was concluded with discussion for the place of development education in the Bulgarian school.

The brochure “International development cooperation” and the policy paper “Development education in Bulgaria - opportunities and needs, main concepts and best practices”, were disseminated among the participants. The summaries of these papers in English can be found on the website of the platform.

The program of the second day gathered 69 people in 5 organized seminars. The first workshop before noon was titled “Children participation – children empowering as their natural right – why do we need this?” which was meant to show the need of involving children directly in different initiatives both within and outside school activities. The second workshop before noon was dedicated on introducing the Model United Nations and how this game can be used at schools. The third workshop was directed at the young participants of the meeting, and was titles “Beyond the boundaries”. The aim of the third workshop was to discuss the importance of putting and removing boundaries, both geographical and emotional and how this affects out daily life.
The remaining two workshops were held after the lunch break. The first one was named “With hands and a heart around the world”. It was aimed at introducing ways to teachers and educators for presenting their students with sensitive topics, such as social justice, multicultural communication, and sustainable development. The second one was called “Environmental education and regional approach towards preserving the nature”, which presented the newest study aid for children, prepared by the Regional environmental center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC). Both workshops were aimed at teachers, educators and experts and were held at the same time. The meeting ended with discussion about the learned practices.

The BPID intends to use the material gathered during the two days for drafting a memorandum with the Ministry of Education on the DEAR policy in Bulgaria and the need to include it in the Bulgarian education system. Moreover, the platform intends to expand the created network of teachers and practitioners, which will be maintained by the appointed liaison officer within TRIALOG V.

Finally, the First national meeting for Development education sets the beginning of activities, which the platform intends to undertake, including monthly meeting of the DEAR working group as well as organizing of a second national meeting on development education during the next year.

Information provided by Rositsa Boneva Coordinator of DEAR working group of BPID