Municipalities today

A STEM centre and the “Young Naturalist” research laboratory were officially opened at the “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” Primary School in the town of Dolni Dabnik. Two ceremonies were held because the school operates in two buildings within the town.

The main centre in Building 1 consists of a central hall and two high-tech classrooms. A high-tech classroom has also been established in Building 2. The facilities are equipped with interactive displays, a 3D printer, renovated furniture, microscopes with sample sets, and a range of educational materials. The project, worth BGN 130,000, was implemented under the National Programme “Building a School STEM Environment”.

Speaking to BTA, Principal Vanya Petkova-Yotova said that the school was among the first to establish STEM classrooms back in 2021. At that time, the project value amounted to BGN 50,000.

The STEM centre provides opportunities for modelling, construction, and programming. It increases students’ motivation to learn through the introduction of advanced technologies and research activities carried out with the help of telescopes and digital resources. The approach follows the STEM philosophy of education, which integrates teaching skills and academic subjects in a way that reflects real life, the principal added.

In her speech before the opening of the centre, she noted that one of the greatest challenges is that there are no textbooks specifically designed for STEM education, but teachers devote their heart and soul to their work.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the STEM centre in Building 2 was attended by Lena Bogdanova, Chair of the Municipal Council in Dolni Dabnik, Mayor Ivan Vetov, and the principal of “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” Primary School, Vanya Petkova-Yotova.

Mayor Ivan Vetov addressed the teachers and students, saying that today’s event is proof that when there is determination, consistency, and care for the future, results follow.

Greetings were also delivered by Municipal Council Chair Lena Bogdanova. She stated that the celebration is particularly significant because it combines respect for tradition with a vision for the future. The times we live in require not only informed but also thoughtful and creative young people. Therefore, the modern school has the important mission of inspiring students to discover, create, and believe in their own abilities.

The celebration began with the marking of the school’s patron day and the 156th anniversary of its establishment. Students from different grades performed a literary and musical programme featuring poems, songs, and dances. The school’s theatre group reenacted the chapter “Rada’s Excitement” from Ivan Vazov’s novel Under the Yoke.