The Department of Information and Teacher Training at the Thracian University in Stara Zagora organized the XXII International Pedagogical Forum on "Human Values ​​and Virtual Challenges in Education", which was attended by 380 teachers from all over the country.

The event was opened by Prof. Dr. Galya Kozhuharova - Director of DIPKU, who as a mathematician referred to the inspiring and motivating symbolism of the number 22 - the number of the forum and the year of our millennium. Maria Gaidarova - Deputy Minister of Education and Science and Prof. Dr. Miroslav Karabaliev, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs of the Thracian University welcomed the participants and guests.

The beautiful performance of the women's chamber choir "Bibliofonia" enchanted the audience, which sang to the rhythm of the song "Zia Hamba", performed in the language of the Zulu tribe and long applauded the Bulgarian folk song "Ishu, white Nedo", arranged and arranged by Assoc. Mr. Doncho Donev.

Extremely attractive and provocative was the first plenary report presented by Dr. Peggy Pelones from Greece, President of the American School Community in Athens. She demonstrated with nearly 25 volunteers she invited to the stage, the emotional stages of raising children with disabilities in the family, school and society, as well as the fears and hesitations that accompany decisions about change - from the inner attitude of the individual to large social transformation. "Tell me a blue story", "From the crime scene - Sofia", "From the berry to the bread" - these were just some of the topics of the awarded teachers from the country in different levels of education, applying STEM methods and techniques at the competition announced by DIPKU. It was also the round table that gathered the most participants. The seminar "Personal Development and Mental Well-Being in the Teacher-Student-Body Triad", led by Dr. Nebojsa Janicevic, a psychotherapist from Austria, caught the attention of the participants and suggested ideas for solving problems related to school violence.

The participants in the large-scale event and the guests from Austria, Greece, Italy, Malta, Romania, USA and Northern Macedonia took part in the rhythm therapy conducted by Borislava Petrova from DIPKU, as well as in the workshop dedicated to Bulgarian folklore, led by Assoc. Dr. Doncho Donev from DIPKU and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galya Petrova Kirkova from AMTII "Prof. A. Diamandiev" in Plovdiv.

The most lively was the discussion about the quality of teachers' qualifications and the problems with the financing of the Departments at the universities. Nine of them are among the founders of the Bulgarian Association of Departments for Qualification of Pedagogical Specialists, chaired by Prof. Galin Tsokov from Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski". During the forum, a Management Board was elected and specific proposals were prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science.

Text and photos: Stoyanka Tsacheva