On the initiative of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", Varna implements positive education as a model for a supportive and inspiring learning environment

15 November 2024

The forum Positive Education - Concepts, Approaches and Perspectives, organized by Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" with the support of the Regional Department of Education and the Municipality of Varna gathered more than 140 head teachers, teachers, school psychologists, educators and university lecturers today in The Youth Center in Varna. It was attended by the vice-rector of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" Assoc. Prof. Eleonora Tankova, the head of the University's Center for Positive Education Prof. Rumen Stamatov, the head of the Regional Department of Education, Dr. Irena Radeva, the Deputy Mayor of Varna Pavel Popov, Prof. Dr. Todorka Kostadinova from the Medical University in Varna.

"For the first time, we have gathered the educational community to share the experience of how to apply positive education", said Prof. Stamatov for BTA. He reminded that they have been developing programmes, models, concepts and criteria for evaluation of the method at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" for two years. All these have been applied on a pilot basis in several schools in Varna, among them Geo Milev Secondary School, Zahari Stoyanov Primary School, P. R. Slaveykov Primary School, Dobri Chintulov Primary School, A. S. Pushkin High School, as well as in the school in the village of Priseltsi. “More and more managements and teams of schools and kindergartens in Varna are showing interest in the implementation of positive education in their programmes”, said the organizers of the forum.

"The idea is that positive education, which is built on the most modern ideas of psychology, should enter every school, in all classes and be practiced by all teachers", pointed out Prof. Stamatov. He specified that every school is different and the programme takes this into account. This includes parents who, as with anything new, have an initial reaction of resistance, but see the effects and quickly become involved in it. "The method is applied both in class and as an assignment for children and parents. Its point is to emphasize strengths, as positive psychology does not deny. We have experience with the negative practices, but it turns out that we don't have a language to speak about the positive ones", the professor also pointed out and added that the Center for Positive Education uses very strict criteria for effectiveness over a four-year cycle to eliminate problems in the application. There is also feedback to track results.

"We are all aware of the complex time in which we live, a time of uncertainty and instability, in which the only sustainable thing is the changes that occur and put to the test our value orientation and the direction of development", said Assoc. Prof. Eleonora Tankova at the forum. In her words, teachers and educators are faced with the question of how to focus on the right set of values over material wealth, integrity over income, self-respect over the pursuit of profits, emotional intelligence over IQ. "Positive education has become a new paradigm that has received attention worldwide because it offers approaches to support young people to strive for well-being and to be resilient in the face of crises. It provides everyone with the skills to build a system that promotes the pursuit of a meaningful life alongside high achievement,” she added.

"I am glad that there are so many people working in Varna with open senses to new things", said the head of the Regional Department of Education, Dr. Irena Radeva, and added that she sees interest among the teaching staff to go through the challenge of positive education, which is not easy, but the result is happy children and satisfied parents.

The Deputy Mayor Pavel Popov said the following words to the participants of the educational forum: "When we talk about innovation in education, it is all too easy to tip the scales towards technology, to identify innovation and progress with digital skills. At the same time, we must not forget that we have already made the transition from Education 4.0 to Education 5.0. The difference between these two signatures is the skills of the whole personality, which are more than just digital skills. The meaning of education can only be realized when it takes into account the way the educated person feels. This is precisely why positive education is called upon to participate in the complex balance where, for the purposes of Education 5.0, it is not enough to identify innovation with technology."

Prof. Dr. Todorka Kostadinova recalled that the University of Medicine in Varna joined this initiative, which is a continuation of the project for the modernization of the university through the implementation of two master's programmes for artificial intelligence in biomedicine and health care. According to her, in the current speed of technology and digitization, we must maintain the balance through humanism, which is part of the positive education.

Prof. Rumen Stamatov received the 2023 Varna Award for overall contribution and significant achievements in academic, research and practical work and for the Positive Education at School project of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar".