Presentation of the project during Annual conference of the Ministry of Education and Science in Bulgaria – 15 November 2024, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
The project and its results were presented during the Annual Conference of the Ministry of Educaiton and Science with the topic “Social and emotional learning – strategies, models and practice”, which was hosted by Plovdiv University “Paissi Hilendarski” in the period 15-17 November 2024.
Official host of the event was prof. Dsc Dora Levterova-Gadjalova – IM-PRO-IN-DE Project coordinator as well as Chair of the Deparment for further teacher’s qualification and Department of Pedagogy and Educational management at the Plovdiv University.
The project consortium was represented also by Mr. Andrean Lazarov from Bulgarian Inclusion Support Team and Dr. Yanka Takeva – Chairperson of Bulgarian Teachers’ Union, who also presented the project’ Community of practice and invited the participants to join it.
Social-emotional learning is one of the most important elements of successful modern education. It helps to build individuals who are resilient and able to cope with the challenges of the new era. This was stated by the Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Galin Tsokov. According to the Minister, artificial intelligence and technologies will increasingly enter our lives, but they will not be able to build the human personality – to develop the skills we need to work and live successfully. It is socio-emotional learning that develops these skills and helps to build a positive educational environment. Prof. Tsokov cited a number of studies that show how the climate in educational institutions improves when children build teamwork skills, learn social resilience and manage emotions.
The event was attended also by key guests such as Prof. PhD. Vladimira Angelova, Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy of the Plovdiv University, Prof. PhD. Milen Zamfirov, Dean of the Faculty of Education of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Assoc. Prof. PhD. Gencho Velchev, Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy of the Thracian University, the Director of the Directorate for Inclusive Education at the Ministry of Education and Science Greta Gancheva, Prof. Dr. Zhelyazka Raykova and Prof. Dr. Yuri Yanakiev from Plovdiv University, Prof. Dr. Siika Chavdarova – Kostova from Sofia University, Col. Rumyan Rusev, Dr. Katya Stoilova from PCPPPO – Plovdiv, Kaloyan Damyanov – coordinator of the European Association for Special Needs and Inclusive Education, Dimitar Asenov, director of the National Center for Special Needs Education.