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Bulgaria, Sofia
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The idea to establish a German school in Sofia was born in November 2007 at a meeting of German‑speaking parents with the cultural attaché of the German Embassy. In June 2008 the Bulgarian Ministry of Education supported the project; initial plans envisioned up to 60 children for the first year. Overwhelming interest led to additional space and capacity, and 105 pupils and 24 preschool children were welcomed at the start of the school year. The project received backing from the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA), the German Embassy, and the German Foreign Office, with Bulgarian authorities also supporting the plan. In 2013 the school, under its first head Ernst Wellner, earned the Gütesiegel “Exzellente Deutsche Auslandsschule”; a jubilee magazine was published in June 2023 to mark the 15th anniversary.
The school participates in national and international projects. Projects include Jugend Musiziert, Jugend Debattiert, and Känguru der Mathematik. The school also runs or participates in events such as Raus aus dem Schulhaus, Martinsfest, Weihnachten, and Buchstabenfest. These activities reflect the school's engagement in arts, debate, mathematics, and cultural festivities within the DS Sofia community.
The school has a parent association named Verein der Eltern der deutsch-bulgarischen Begegnungsschule. The association provides access to all necessary documents for members, including minutes, reports, and planning materials from member meetings. Topics for the ongoing improvement of the school are discussed at member meetings. Active participation is encouraged, and there is a membership application. There is a login for members.
Deutsche Schule Sofia is a German-Bulgarian joint school in Sofia serving ages 5 to 18 with the German Curriculum. The school offers grades 1–12 under the German general education system, and preschool for three- to six-year-olds. Instruction in German follows German curricula and standards; after twelve years students take the Abitur, enabling access to higher education in Germany and Bulgaria. Bulgarian-speaking students study Bulgarian language and literature, history, and geography under adapted Bulgarian curricula. The Ministry of Education coordinates oversight, and the school is operated by the Association of Parents of the German-Bulgarian Encounter School Sofia. Facilities include a library, biology and chemistry rooms, a computer room, an art room, a music room, a canteen, and a school staff room, plus on-site preschool and a schoolyard. The school maintains a digital concept and runs iPad-based teaching. Distinctive programs include Erasmus+ exchanges, Model United Nations, and a November conference held annually.
