In Bulgaria, special attention is paid to children who are gifted in the areas of science, art and sports. One-off financial aid, a total of three times the national minimum wage, is granted to children who come in first, second or third place during competitions, Olympiads or contests, in the area of arts, science and sports, at municipality, national or international level. Incentives for gifted children are also granted in the form of monthly scholarships, in the amount equal to 50% of the minimum salary in Bulgaria. This grant may be applied for by a child, a parent (or guardian), school director or social worker. Candidates are evaluated by expert commissions, and the funds for this programme are provided by the budget of the interested ministries for the relevant calendar year.
For 2018, the Ministry of Culture provided approximately 315 000 BGN for scholarships to gifted children.
According to the data of the Ministry of Culture, there are 23 secondary public schools for arts and culture in Bulgaria: ten of them are art schools that educate students in the professions of painter and designer; six are musical schools; and three are art schools. Bulgaria also has several specialised schools, such as the National School of Dance Art (Sofia), National High School of Ancient Languages and Cultures Constantine-Cyril Philosopher (Sofia), National Cultural Complex with Lyceum for studying Italian and Culture (Gorna Banya) and National High School of Polygraphy and Photography (Sofia). There is a concentration of art schools in the capital of Bulgaria.
Only two schools with a profile related to arts and culture are enrolled in the Bulgarian Association of Private Schools: Private School for Dance Arts Galina Sergeyevna Ulanova and Private School of Arts and Foreign Languages Artis.
In terms of the curriculum in the country, there are subjects that are mandatory in general education, which are grouped into eight cultural and educational fields, including subjects in arts. Compulsory school classes may not exceed 32 hours per week.
The curriculum in vocational trainings for the acquisition of professional qualification in arts was approved by an order of the Ministry of Culture and an order of the Ministry of Education in 2017.
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