In general schools

Teachers, who engage in teaching, are educationalists. Educationalists are persons who perform functions in relation to the education, upbringing and socialization of adults, as well as the personality development support to adults at schools and other educational institutions.

The competences needed as a set of knowledge, skills and attitudes, depending on the career development level, shall be set out in the professional profile of each type of educationalist. The professional profile and the results achieved in the education of adults shall provide grounds for identifying professional improvement priorities and assisting the self-assessment and appraisal of educationalists.

To be considered for employment, teachers at schools where continuing adult education is organized must have completed higher education (Bachelor, Master or Specialist) in a degree from the Classifier of higher education and professional direction and ‘teacher’ or ‘pedagogue’ professional qualification area. In addition to other requirements, they must have experience in teaching in adult education programs. 

Labour contracts with educationalists shall be signed and terminated by the headmaster of the school. Starting monthly salaries are between 450 BGN and 1000 BGN, but typcally depend on the program and the number of hours.

The functions, professional profiles and the required professional qualifications of adults educationalists, as well as the terms and conditions for the improvement of qualifications, career development and appraisal of shall be laid down in the state education standard for the status and professional development of teachersand the other educationalists.

Educationalists shall have the following rights:

• to have their rights and dignity respected;
• to select the methods and means of implementing the educational process; 
• to receive professional support in the discharge of their duties;
• to improve their qualifications;
• to receive incentives and rewards.

Educationalists shall have the following obligations:

• to provide teaching in accordance with the state education standards;
• to respect the rights and dignity of adults and partnership with stakeholders;
• to maintain and improve their qualifications in accordance with the organizational development policies of the relevant institution and the specific needs of adults they work with for the purpose of improving the quality of their education.

Educationalists shall have the obligation to improve their qualifications on an annual basis for the purpose of improving the quality of their work and to improve the performance.

The activities related to the improvement of the qualifications of educationalists shall be planned, coordinated, managed and controlled at the national, regional, municipal and school level.

The improvement of the qualifications of educationalists shall be carried out by specialized auxiliary units, higher education institutions, research organizations and organizations whose training programmes have been approved.

It is carried out within programmes and in forms at the choice of the educationalist in accordance with the professional profile, the educationalist's professional development, with the result and recommendations of his or her appraisal, as well as the national, regional, municipal and school policy. On the basis of the level of qualifications attained, educationalists may acquire professional qualification degrees. A higher level of qualifications shall provide grounds for a higher professional qualifications degree.

The competences attained shall be recorded in the educationalist's professional portfolio. It shall be compiled by him and it shall include his or her materials which prove his or her professional work, professional improvement and career development, as well as the result achieved in the work with adults. The professional portfolio shall assist the appraisal and self-assessment of the educationalist.

The objectives, functions and contents of the professional portfolio, shall be laid down in the state education standard for the status and professional development of teachers.

The career development is a process of improving competences in the successive performance of teaching positions or in the acquisition of degrees for the purpose of improving the quality and efficiency of education.

Teaching positions are as follows:

• teacher;
• senior teacher;
• chief teacher.

Based on the achieved level of qualification teaching professionals can acquire these alternately professional degrees (SPC):

• fifth professional degree;
• fourth professional degree;
• third degree of professional qualification;
• second professional degree;
• the first professional degree.

The training of pedagogical specialists associated with the rise training for acquiring professional qualification degrees is performed in the higher education system of higher schools established under the Law on Higher Education.

The teaching service, qualifications credits, the professional qualification degree and the appraisal results shall provide grounds for the career development of educationalists for adults. A greater number of qualification credits and a higher professional qualification degree shall provide grounds for a faster career development of educationalists, regardless of the duration of their teaching service.

The appraisal of teachers, directors and headmasters and the other educationalists shall be carried out every four years by an appraisal committee appointed by the employer in consultation with the teaching staff meeting.

Educationalists shall be incentivized with moral and materials rewards for excellence. The Minister of Education and Science and the head of the relevant regional division of education may issue orders to introduce rewards for educationalists at the national and regional level.

Educationalists may be conferred awards and distinctions for exemplary discharge of their duties upon an order issued by their employer.

In higher education schools

Employment condition for teachers at higher schools where continuing adult education organized are governed by 3 laws:

• The Higher Education Act; 
• The Law on Academic Staff Development in the Republic of Bulgaria;
• The Academic Degrees and Academic Ranks Act.

The rest of the conditions are in accordance with the Labor Code of Bulgaria.