Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Teachers in Bulgaria ready to go on strike, demand pay rise

Photo: BGNES, archive

77 per cent of those employed in Bulgaria's secondary education system are ready to go out on strike demanding a pay rise in the sector, according to a national survey by Podkrepa trade union. Half of those surveyed are in favour of a nation-wide effective strike, around 25 per cent favour national and regional rallies, and over 20 per cent favour a failure to complete the first term of the school year.

Teachers are demanding a 21% pay rise, which would guarantee them 125% above the national average gross wage, Yuliyan Petrov, chairman of the Education trade union at the Podkrepa trade union, told BNR.

"A young teacher currently receives a salary of BGN 1,445 (€738.8), which is indicative that even if young people become teachers, they will not stay with the numerous duties," the trade unionist said. 

Thus, if salaries are not increased, the average age in the Bulgarian education system - currently over 52 - will rise even further.



Read also:


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Light rainfall is possible in southern Bulgaria, warming continues

On Thursday, minimum temperatures will range between 6 and 11°C across the country. Along the Black Sea coast, they will reach 13 to 16°C , while in Sofia they will drop to around 7°C. In the morning, visibility will be reduced in some low-lying areas..

published on 10/22/25 7:05 PM
Valérie Hayer

Renew Europe calls on the European Commission to urgently send a mission to Bulgaria

The President of the “Renew Europe” group in the European Parliament, Valérie Hayer, called on the European Commission to urgently send a mission to Bulgaria to assess the rule of law situation and to freeze all payments under the Recovery and..

published on 10/22/25 6:12 PM

Young doctors to receive long-awaited pay rise

“At coalition level, we have decided to meet the demands of young doctors regarding salary levels,” said Kostadin Angelov, chair of the parliamentary health committee, at a meeting of the panel, as reported by BNR's Mila Mladenova. Young doctors..

published on 10/22/25 4:55 PM