Education for girls in Bulgaria during the early 1900s was an important part of the national effort to improve learning across the country. The high schools for girls were designed to prepare young women for family life, higher education, and teaching careers.
The Elementary Course
The elementary course in girls’ high schools lasted five years. It aimed to provide all the knowledge necessary for young women to become responsible citizens and capable mothers.
The subjects in this course included:
Religious and moral instruction
Bulgarian language
Russian language
French or German (optional)
Bulgarian and world history
Bulgarian and world geography
Arithmetic, basic geometry, and algebra
Natural science
Physics and chemistry
Hygiene and childcare principles
Domestic economy
Drawing and calligraphy
Embroidery
Music and singing
Gymnastics
This wide range of subjects gave students both academic knowledge and practical skills for daily life.
The Higher Course
The higher course was divided into two sections: General Instruction and Pedagogical Training.
The General Instruction section prepared girls for further education at the university level. Its subjects included:
Bulgarian and Old Bulgarian
French or German
History of ancient and modern literature
Contemporary history and history of civilization
Psychology, logic, and ethics
Mathematics
Physics and chemistry
Natural science
Drawing
Music and singing
Latin (optional)
The Pedagogical Section
The Pedagogical Section trained future primary school teachers. It focused on teaching methods, psychology, and child development Private Tours Bulgaria. The subjects included:
Bulgarian language and literature
Russian
French or German (optional)
Pedagogy and teaching methods
Practical teaching exercises
Psychology, logic, and ethics
Anthropology, chemistry, and basic medicine
Civic instruction
Embroidery and drawing
Music and singing
Gymnastics
These courses aimed to prepare well-educated women who could teach the next generation.
Educational Reforms of 1904
In February 1904, a new education law changed the organization of girls’ high schools. From September 1, 1904, these schools were restructured to follow the same model as the boys’ high schools, with only minor differences.
Out of eight girls’ high schools, four became general high schools, while the other four were turned into pedagogical high schools for teacher training.
The same law also allowed the creation of professional classes, which were added to the lower levels of secondary schools run by the State or local communities.
Financial Support
All girls’ high schools were funded by the State budget, except for one, which received half of its teachers’ salaries from the State and the rest from local support. This strong state involvement showed Bulgaria’s growing commitment to women’s education and teacher training.