The sixth edition of the High Start with Postbank programme that supports secondary education in Bulgaria has been just launched. The programme has been revamped and is now carried out under the slogan Chase Away Boredom from Your Classroom and its objective is to collect suggestions for development of the secondary education from the high school students. The best ideas will be rewarded with one-time merit scholarship for the amount of 1000 BGN and the total value of scholarships is 50 000 BGN. The programme is carried out in partnership with the Bulgarian Donors Forum, the Paideia Foundation, National Network for the Children and the Parent Association and under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science.
The initiative was officially launched at a pressconference in 51st Secondary School Elisaveta Bagryana by the Minister of Education, Youth and Science Mr. Serguey Ignatov, Postbank’s CEO Mr. Anthony Hassiotis, Ms. Krassimira Velichkova, executive director of the Bulgarian Donors’ Forum and Maria Donkova, programme director of the Paideia Foundation.
Students from 8th to 12th grade from alll over the country whose GPA is higher than 5.00 will be eligible to participate in this edition of the programme. In order to take part in the competition, they need to write an essay on the following topic: Chase Away Boredom from Your Classroom and submit it via the programme’s webpage www.silenstart.bg no later than 21 November 2010. Students will compete only with their peers that study in the same grade. 10 essays from each age group will be rewarded. The best essays will be presented to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science.
The jury that is going to evaluate and choose the best student works is made up of members of the partnering organisations that are focused on education and young people, of media representatives such as the journalist Prolet Velkova from Darik Radio and Robert Kovachev from the Bulgarian National Television and of Postbank’s representatives. The appraisers’ requirements include good structure and argumentation, clear description and solution of the problem, applicability and originality of the idea as well as immaculate spelling and punctuation.
„We are all sharing a common goal – to have effective educational system which prepares and moulds the future leaders of Bulgaria. In order to attain this goal, Postbank has been collaborating closely with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science and over that period we have distinguished 716 students with scholarships for a total value of 326 000 BGN. This year we have expanded the scope of the programme to attract 4 more partners from the non-governmental sector to make the programme more effective and to incorporate the views of the young people.”, said Anthony Hassiotis, Postbank’s Chief Executive Officer.
