The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science opened a call for proposals for projects that could help increase pedagogical specialists' capacity to work in multicultural environments.

A total of seven million leva, or just under €3.6 million, is made available under the procedure which is implemented with the financial support of the European Social Fund (ESF). The procedure aims to provide support in:

• Training pedagogical specialists and educational mediators to work in multicultural environments in order to assist the equal participation of all students and enhance their motivation for learning while also supporting their cultural identities;
• Implementing of a strategy to help qualify teachers and administrative staff to work in multi-ethnic environments, and especially with bilingual children;
• Creating a good socio-psychological environment in schools and society

The following activities are eligible for funding:

• Developing and updating strategies, plans, programs, analysis, recommendations and competency profiles of educational institutions in order to optimise work in multicultural environments;
• Conducting short-term trainings with teachers, pedagogical specialists, school principals and kindergarten staff on working in multicultural environments;
• Supporting pedagogical specialists in acquiring professional qualifications for working with students of diverse backgrounds

Eligible candidates include Bulgarian non-governmental organisations. The deadline for the submission of proposals has been extended to 13 May 2020 at 17:30 Bulgarian time.

More information is available here.