September 28, 2009



National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva opened on September 28, 2009 the new academic year in Veliko Tarnovo University "St. St. Cyril and Methodius”. The opening was attended by the parliamentary Education, Science, Children , Youths and Sports Committee Chair Ognyan Stoichkov and MPs from all parliamentary groups.


“I didn’t hesitate to accept the kind invitation of the University Rector, Professor Legkostup, to be today immersed among young people and academic spirit, in this city, full with history and memories of the past”, said in her address the Speaker of Bulgaria’s parliament. Tsetska Tsacheva stressed that all young people who have chosen to be students at the University, have made a decisive step towards spirituality, high morals and deep knowledge of the science they have decided to master.

With the experience of your teachers, with their high academic standards and their desire not to keep away from younger generations anything they know, I am sure that in addition to a remarkable past, the University of Veliko Turnovo will have even more glorious future, said the President of the National Assembly.

On behalf of the MPs in the 41-st National Assembly, I can responsibly say that the problems of young people, of the university education, the academia and science represent a top priority for us and the proof is a bill that we have prepared for the development of the academic profession in Bulgaria, which is to be moved in the parliament in early October, said Tsetska Tsacheva. It expresses the will of the state to care for young people who are the most valuable asset, reflecting onto the future – of young and highly educated professionals who will work for Bulgaria, added in her address at the opening of the new academic year, the President of Parliament.


Later on, in a statement to media representatives, Tsetska Tsacheva noted that the new bill was prepared by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science and foresees substantial changes to the current provisions of the Higher Education Act.


Together with this draft bill of the Ministry of Science and Education, the parliamentary Committee on Science and Education will held discussions on a report with proposals for legislative changes in the university education system, adopted by the National Council of University Rectors, added the President of the National Assembly.


Ms. Tsetska Tsacheva left a message in the honorary guests’ book of Veliko Tarnovo University. In it, she wrote: "I wish to the University of Veliko Tarnovo to continue its existence throughout time, as did the symbols of Veliko Tarnovo – the fortress of Tsarevets and the Patriarchate, in honor of the Bulgarian national spirit of today and onward and in honor and pride of the academic community."


The Speaker of Parliament awarded Plamen Legkostup, Head of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and Methodius” University with the honorary badge of the National Assembly.


Tsetska Tsacheva and MPs took part in the joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and the University Leadership before the opening. The meeting’s main topic were issues of the post secondary education and science in Bulgaria.