Job Discussion Forums

charlieg · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 6 Location: doncaster&Kozichino

Hi
We are moving to Bulgaria June 2006, and we are considering having a private teacher to teach our two girls who will be aged 12&13yrs.
Obviously the teacher must speak English as well as Bulgarian.
The reason we are looking at having a private tutor to teach are children at home are. We think it would be upsetting to place are children in a Bulgarian school when they cannot speak the langauge.
Also we would be living in the mountians about 30km from the nearest school.
what are your views on home schooling?

Albulbul · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 364

I think you will find in BG that it is a LEGAL REQUIREMENT to send children under 16 to school.

Check it out with the Min of Ed or ask your Bulgarian 'juriskonsult' (legal advisor)

Chasgul · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 168 Location: BG

To the best of my knowledge, if you are not a BG citizen you can home-school if you want. The availability of bi-lingual teachers is another question - where will you be? near Sofia? Vratsa? Turnovo?

slightly off topic - Are you from Sunny Donny?

charlieg · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 6 Location: doncaster&Kozichino

Hi
Yes from sunny Donny. Going to live in Kozichino 19km from Sunny Beach in the mountians.

charlieg · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 6 Location: doncaster&Kozichino

HI Chasgul
How long you lived in bg. What area you living.
What is the average salary for teachers in bg i have been told they earn approx �100- 300bgn a month.
i know that this does not seem a lot.but a friend of mine in Bourgas works 6x12hr shifts a week in the refinery, he is an engineer and he earns the equivalent of �120 per month.
I intend to pay a good salary by Bulgarian standards.

charlieg

Chasgul · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 168 Location: BG

I've lived in Sofia for five years, and I started teaching in schools last year when I did my CELTA here.

The problem is that the rate of pay depends on the school. I'm working in two places at the minute - one pays 3levs/h the other 12levs/teaching hour. Ask you can see, one the one hand you can work yourself to the bone and just about hit 300, on the other, you can work reasonable hours and make a living.

Before you think I'm totally out of it - the reason I teach in both places is that I want to take the DELTA sooner rather than later, so more courses = more hours = can apply for DELTA sooner. The other interesting things are the type of students, the different expectations, the different equipment and so on.

The other thing to bear in mind is that the pay-scale shifts dramatically depending on where exactly you are, as does the cost of living. Here in Sofia things are more expensive than elsewhere, but potential salaries are also higher.

If you have any more questions, ask away.

Albulbul · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 364

I am curious about what you will do in Bulgaria to earn your daily bread. Go on, tell us !

charlieg · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 6 Location: doncaster&Kozichino

Hi Albulbul
I am fotunate that my house is paid for so the rent of that which will be approx �500 per month will sufficient to live on as well as my pension. i also intend to open a falconery centre.
When you consider that the average wage in Bulgaria is approx �100 per month. I will have a good income and should live well.
thanks

charlieg · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 6 Location: doncaster&Kozichino

HI Chasgul
Could you check out for me if home schooling for foriegn children is legal in Bulgaria.
Have not had a reply from ministry of education, can anyone out there confirm wether it is legal for home schooling in bg or not.
thanks

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If they are resident in Bulgaria you, as the parent, are legally obliged to send them to school. There is no legal recognition of home schooling in Bulgaria. Rather as it was in the UK a few years ago.

It may be that local officials will ignore the law but I would not bank on it.
Poorly-paid civil servants in BG are not always well-disposed to rich immigrants.

I have been resident since 1991 so I know wherof I speak !

charlieg · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 6 Location: doncaster&Kozichino

Hi Scot47
Our friend in Bourgas has been to see the director of a school there. She said to him that she can see no problem with home schooling as long as the school set the course work. and they go to school every month or so to show the school that they are being taught the lessons that the school has set out.
We only intend to home school are children until they feel comfortable with the language and Bulgaria. After a couple of years we would like them to go to a BG school and hopfully onto college.
I would not regard myself as being rich. i am just a average working class in the UK. But i know that in BG my money will go a lot further.
Thanks for your opinion, i am still waiting to here from the ministry of education.
Regards
Charlieg

Chasgul · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 168 Location: BG

Just a word of warning - the children may have more difficulties getting used to BG if they stay at home and in an english-speaking environment all day than if they are in at the deep end.

From personal experience I say put them in at the deep end - I learnt basic Bulgarian in three months that way and am now effectively fluent, no matter the subject. Other Brits have been here for years and still hang out in the ex-pat crowd because their spoken Bulgarian is limited to a few words. Cruel to be kind as we say in Yorkshire.