Bulgaria doesn’t have a literacy problem—at least not just in words.
Studies at both national and international levels, along with national standardized assessments, consistently show that many children, young people, and adults struggle with reading, particularly with understanding and utilizing what they read.
Problems with text comprehension extend beyond educational outcomes and impact all areas of public life, contributing to a decline in environmental quality.
At the start of secondary education, one in two children in Bulgaria finds it difficult to understand longer texts. Many students finish secondary education with low results on state assessments, which affects their career prospects. A significant number of young people up to the age of 29 neither continue their education nor engage in work.
The career development of these young individuals is often hindered by a lack of basic digital competencies, native and foreign language skills, and general knowledge. Furthermore, poor reading habits and aversion to reading affect not only the individuals themselves but also their future children. These young people often pass on their difficulties with reading, critical thinking, and informed decision-making to the next generation.
WE MUST ACT TOGETHER AND IMMEDIATELY
Concrete action is urgently needed.
The “Reading” Foundation – Bulgaria, the “Children’s Books” Foundation, the “Books and Reading” Association, the “Global Libraries – Bulgaria” Foundation, the Bulgarian Library and Information Association, the “Bulgarian Book” Association, and the National Center for the Book, along with partners, like-minded individuals, and employer organizations, are united in our mission to sustainably enhance the environment by promoting reading in Bulgaria.
- Reading is the foundation of a civil society and a guarantor of democratic principles.
- Reading prevents the spread of misinformation and propaganda.
- Reading builds active individuals with reasoned opinions, and empowers them to defend their views.
- Reading is also a tool for preventing poverty and is central to prosperity, preserving diversity, ensuring equality, fostering partnerships, driving economic growth, innovation, and upholding democratic values.
A STRONG UNION FOR READING
To give all children and young people the best chance of success by ensuring they read well and think critically, we need a broad alliance.
We aim to strengthen existing networks and initiatives that support and stimulate reading, forge new partnerships, and unite individuals and institutions from all sectors. This includes not only parents, educators, pediatricians, psychologists, librarians, academics, book publishers, booksellers, and the media, but also national and local authorities, opinion leaders, employers’ and workers’ associations, businesses, NGOs, media companies, foundations, social partners, trade unions, and volunteers.
The National Reading Pact seeks to involve all these groups in developing a strategy to achieve our goal: ensuring that every person in Bulgaria develops their literacy through reading and has access to books. Reading creates opportunities.
MISSION OF THE NATIONAL READING PACT
- Ensure that all children and young people develop their reading skills to the best of their abilities.
- This will provide them with the opportunity to achieve academic success, realize their educational potential, and freely choose their profession.
- Raise awareness in society about the importance of reading in everyday life. Every member of society should be committed to helping children and young people become proficient readers.
- Make reading a top priority for national and local governments, enabling the private and non-governmental sectors to develop and initiate programs that build reading foundations from an early age, support families in raising future readers, and foster a culture of reading to support the future of democratic society.
- Recognize reading as a crucial factor in human health, social well-being, and national security.
- Encourage political leaders and opinion leaders to support, through concrete policies and measures, the efforts of all those involved in fostering and developing readers.
national infrastructure for reading
We are prepared to outline the reading infrastructure in Bulgaria.
We will point out all the components of the reading infrastructure.
We will connect all relevant entities, including civilian, business, and political structures.
We will generate ideas and support projects.
We will serve as both online and offline moderators in rethinking the important role of reading in this unpredictable and over-technologized world.
Initiators
Signatory institutions:
Petition
Bulgaria needs people who can embrace challenges, support environmental and economic transformation, and think critically. Investments in the development of reading infrastructure are investments in sustainable development and human capital with a very high return on investment.
Supporting people in their transition to becoming functionally literate and critical thinkers is a guarantee for preserving democratic values, protecting against propaganda, and creating an environment where everyone can actively develop their full potential.
If you, as an individual, believe that Bulgaria needs a more literate future generation and would like to be informed of our next steps, please sign the petition.
SIGN THE PETITION