15063 | 13 Oct. 2025 | 12:28

The winner is not determined by the best vision for the development of the school, but by "having support" - whether from local authorities or certain political structures.

Stanimir Vlahov

 is a teacher who has graduated from primary school pedagogy, sports pedagogy, political science and administration and management.

 I am a participant in a competition for a school director, ranking first. In recent years, director competitions in Bulgarian schools have become a symbol not of professionalism and development, but of dependency, subjectivity and political influence.

 The system, which is supposed to identify the most prepared and inspiring leaders, often reproduces established patterns of partisanship and personal interests.

 As someone who has personally taken part in a competition for a director, I have seen up close how the formally correct procedure can be turned into a predetermined process. The feeling that everything is already decided, that evaluation is a matter of attitude rather than real qualities, is deeply discouraging - not only for the candidates, but also for all those who believe in the meaning of fair competition.

 Formal competition, preliminary result

 Official competitions are held under strict rules, determined by the Ministry of Education and Science. In reality, however, practice shows that the outcome is often predetermined even before the start.

 The questions that are asked are formal; the candidates' concepts are rarely examined in depth, and the evaluation - often devoid of clear arguments. Competition committees often show bias.
 

 The winner is not the one who has the best vision for the development of the school, but the one who has the "support" - either from the local authorities, or from certain political structures. The consequences for the school and the system.

 When the principal is chosen along party or personal lines, the school loses its most valuable asset - the trust of the collective. Teachers become demotivated, feeling that their efforts and competence are not valued. The atmosphere of mutual respect and common mission is replaced by fear, silence and indifference.

 Instead of a leader who inspires and unites, often an administrator stands who serves interests outside of the school. This inevitably reflects on the quality of education and the way children perceive school as an environment for development.

 What needs to be changed.

 Full transparency of procedures. All documents, evaluations and protocols from competitions must be publicly accessible, as well as the arguments of the selection committee for choosing a specific candidate.

 Composition of the committees with the participation of independent members. In addition to representatives of regional administrations, experts from academic circles, parent organizations and pedagogical councils should also participate in the committees.

 Possibility for appeal. Each candidate must have a real opportunity to challenge the results in case of doubts about subjectivity or conflict of interests.

 Why is this important.

 Education is a social contract - between the state, teachers, students and parents. The director is its guarantee. When this contract is violated by political or personal interests, we not only lose trust, but also the future.

 As a participant in the competition, I believed that this process could be fair and choose the most qualified candidates. But as subjectivity and party influence continue to determine the results, the system will lose its most sincere and motivated professionals.

 If we want the Bulgarian education system to be modern, fair and motivating, we must start from the top - from those who manage it. Director competitions should not be a tool for control, but a mechanism for development. Only then will we have schools where the leaders are not appointed "along the line", but chosen on merit.