The Legal Situation of HOMESCHOOLING in Bulgaria | Tedi Dimitrova Talks with Petar Porumbachanov

Homeschooling in Bulgaria often sounds like an exotic idea, a whim, or even a threat to the “normal” school. Many people are convinced that in Bulgaria it is forbidden and that children “must belong to the state.” In this video, the speakers address exactly these fears and myths—not theoretically, but through real cases from the past 25 years.

Host Deni Andonova speaks with Petar Porumbachanov – a lawyer and founder of the Bulgarian Homeschooling Association. He explains clearly what it actually means for a parent to take responsibility for the education of their child: how the law works, when and how a child can be withdrawn from school, what the differences are between state, private, “umbrella” schools and fully home-based education, how knowledge and diplomas are later recognized, and how real institutions react—schools, municipalities, social services, and the Ministry of Education.

Legal Foundations of Homeschooling

Every citizen has the right to education. The Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria stipulates compulsory schooling up to the age of 16. Constitutional experts in 1991 deliberately formulated this provision so that schooling is not required to be state schooling. International legislation, which is part of Bulgaria’s domestic law, clearly shows that parents have sufficient grounds to educate their children at home.

Bulgarian law contains no definition of the term “school.” Parents may claim that what they do at home constitutes a school. They are not under a permit or notification regime and do not have to inform the authorities of their decision to educate their children at home, as long as they choose a school that is not established by official authorities.

Challenges and Institutional Resistance

The problems do not stem from the parents’ rights, but from the desire of the authorities to keep children in the state school system at all costs. Existing laws allow interpretation, and court practice is contradictory because Bulgarian law is not precedent-based.

Institutions such as the Social Assistance Agency, Child Protection Departments, the Ministry of Interior, mayors, and school administrations are often involved in attendance-tracking teams. The most persistent and aggressive resistance comes from teachers, principals, and regional education officials, because for them no education exists outside the state system. These employees often follow internal administrative orders and do not delve into the law. Principals have a vested interest in keeping children enrolled, since their withdrawal leads to loss of delegated budgets.

Procedure for Withdrawing a Child from School

If the child has never been enrolled in a state institution, the situation is different from when the child has already been part of the system. When a child is enrolled, parents must present evidence (an enrolment document) that the child is now enrolled in another legal school. This document must be given to the principal of the current school so that the case can be closed and an official withdrawal document issued.

If parents end their relationship with the school without this required document, the situation is recorded as school dropout. The principal is then obliged to file a report to the Social Assistance Agency, because in Bulgaria social payments are tied to school attendance.

It is recommended that an enrolment document from a foreign school be accompanied by an Apostille. This internationally recognized seal certifies the legality of the school system and saves administrative complications.

Many parents use “umbrella schools,” which are administrative programs. These schools do not provide a complete curriculum but transfer responsibility for assessment and methodology to the parents while ensuring a recognized diploma. The requirement for the external school is that it be legal, meaning registered according to the laws of its respective country.

Conclusion

This video is not a call for everyone to pull their children out of school. It is an invitation to see that the law provides choice, and the responsibility remains with the parent regardless of whether the child attends a state school, a private school, or learns at home. Even if you are skeptical or opposed to homeschooling, here you will hear a reasoned, calm, legally sound explanation of what actually happens when a family chooses this path—and why it does not mean anarchy or neglect of children.