2000 essays submitted for the Postbank's High Start student competition

Nearly 2,000 students submitted essays with their ideas for the development of high school education in Bulgaria, within the framework of the High Start with Postbank program. In this year's edition of the program supporting high school education, the financial institution will award the best 50 essays by students with 1000 BGN. Participants had to offer innovative and realistic ideas for the development of high school education in the country and a had to have a cumulative grade of no less than 5 on the 2 to 6 - scale.

Students from the 8th to the 12th grade in high schools and specialized schools from 164 cities in Bulgaria participated in the program's 6th edition. The biggest number of students is from Sofia with 352 essays, Plovdiv with 119, Stara Zagora - 61, Varna and Burgas with 60 each. Also competing for the award pretend are students from Ardino, Borino, Archar, Berkovitza, Banite, Brezovo, Velingrad, Vidin, Vratsa, Valkosel, Gabrovo, General Toshevo, Gorna Oriahovitsa, Dimitrovgrad, Dryanovo, Etropole, Isperih, Koprivshtica, etc. The most active students are the ones in the 11th and 12th grade with 823 essays split almost equally between them.

The contestants' essays will be graded until the end of January. The grading jury consists of representatives of NGOs, the program's partners - Bulgarian Donors Forum, the Paideia Foundation, the National Network of Children and Parents Association, media representatives from Darik Radio, Bulgarian National Television and Postbank representative. Awarded essays will be collected in a special book which will be presented to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, under the auspices of which "High Start" is traditionally held.

Among the high school students' suggestions and ideas are for students to be included in the education process, for an increase in the number of discussions that provoke proactive attitude in class, for the lowering of the teacher - student distance and for improvement of school facilities. 

The High Start with Postbank programme was launched in 2005 under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science. This initiative reflects Postbank's conviction that knowledge, diligence and love of learning are the prerequisites for personal and professional realisation in the world today. Over the past 5 years, the programme distinguished the most outstanding eighth graders from the language schools and classes all over the country. The new scholarship holders will be selected from all 8 to 12 grade students in the schools all over the country on the basis of the quality of their written ideas for development of the high school education in the country.  The rewarded 50 student will receive one-time merit scholarship from Postbank for a total value of 1000 BGN and a special certificate of distinction.