Compare German Curriculum International Schools in Bulgaria

Zhetvarka Str. 5, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria. The address is listed in Impressum as the school's contact address. The school is located in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Preschool; Primary School; Sekundarstufe I (Lower Secondary); Sekundarstufe II (Upper Secondary)

German-Bulgarian joint school in Sofia

A pedagogical counselor provides support for the educational process and for students with special needs.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (18:00 with after-care). The preschool day runs from 9:00 to 11:45 and from 13:30 to 15:50 after a midday rest, with arrivals from 7:45 to 8:15.

Meals are provided on site by Furisto. In preschool, meals include breakfast, raw vegetables in the morning, a 3-course lunch, and an afternoon snack. For Grundschule, Sekundarstufe I and II, a 3-course lunch is provided and a weekly meal plan is published; questions about menus or dietary restrictions can be directed to Frau Liliya Vezneva in Administration.

The school is run by the Verein VedbBs association. Governance includes a Board (Vorstand), a Steering Group (Steuergruppe), a Student Council (Schülerbeirat), a Parents' Council (Elternbeirat) and a Teacher Council (Lehrerbeirat). Parents may participate as board members or in the Parents' Council; students participate in the Student Council; the Steering Group works on school development.

The school covers the education tracks of grades 1–12 of the German general education system; preschool education for three- to six-year-old children can also be offered. Instruction in German is based on German curricula and German standards. After twelve years, students receive a German general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur). Bulgarian-speaking students study Bulgarian language and literature, history and civilization, and geography and economy in Bulgarian under adapted Bulgarian curricula; no transfer examination is required for these subjects when transferring. The Abitur certifies completion of Sekundarstufe II and enables admission to higher education in Germany and Bulgaria under applicable laws. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria designates an official to coordinate between the ministry and the school, and the school is operated by the Association of Parents of the German-Bulgarian Encounter School Sofia.

The Abitur enables admission to higher education in Germany and Bulgaria under applicable laws.

Five development areas are social, emotional, cognitive/creative, sensory, and motor. The main emphasis is on learning the German language, and social and emotional development is central to the program. The school values children's ideas and perspectives and incorporates them into yearly planning. Pedagogical support is based on individual learning progress across these domains. Bulgarian language lessons, Bulgarian dances, art, and music are also part of the timetable. In the preschool, Yoga is taught for one hour per week; Bulgarian language is taught two hours weekly for preschool groups and four hours weekly for preschool classes; Bulgarian dances are one hour weekly; Art is two hours weekly; Music is one hour weekly; Swimming lessons are two hours weekly for preschool classes outside school. Pickup from 15:50 to 16:00 takes place in the group rooms; from 16:00 to 18:00 children are supervised by assistants and may enroll in additional activities offered by external providers.

The school employs a Pedagogical Counselor who plays a central role in supporting the educational process and student development, connecting pedagogical expertise with an individual approach and supporting both teachers and students. The counselor contributes to teachers' professional development, advises on curricula, analyzes data, collaborates with the school leadership, and supports students with special needs. The counselor also organizes educational events and develops methodological materials, contributing to the ongoing improvement of teaching practices. The counselor is essential for achieving a high standard of education at the school.

Englisch is taught as a subject within the Grundschule curricula. The Grundschule curricula page lists Englisch alongside Bulgarisch als Muttersprache, Deutsch, Deutsch als Fremdsprache and MNK. The language of instruction in Grundschule is German, and Bulgarian language and culture are studied as well.

The school provides educational counseling to support student development and wellbeing. The pedagogical counselor works to enhance the learning process, provides curriculum guidance, analyzes data, collaborates with the school leadership, and supports students with special needs. The counselor's work is integral to delivering high-quality education at the school. Contact: Frau Zora Russinova, Block S, 2nd floor, Room 8; Email: zrussinova@ds-sofia.bg; appointments by arrangement.

Admission to Deutsche Schule Sofia is normally conducted through an admission procedure that depends on the child's age and the department to be joined. The main principles apply to Vorschule (preschool), Grundschule (primary), Sekundarstufe I, and Sekundarstufe II. When a child is admitted, guardians pay an admission fee and sign a school contract with the school board. Applications for the coming school year take place in the first three weeks of January and must be submitted via the electronic form (Anmeldeformular). Children registered through the form are invited to the admission procedure. If the results after the admission procedure are satisfactory and there are available places, admission may take place; otherwise a waiting list is established. If the results are not sufficient, admission is refused.

Waiting list: If there are no available places after the admission procedure, or admission cannot be offered immediately, a waiting list is established.