President Iliana Iotova met with medallists and representatives of Bulgaria’s national teams in international science Olympiads in biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics. Teachers and mentors of the students, as well as representatives of the Association of Bulgarian Science Olympiad Teams, also attended the meeting.
The meeting was part of the President’s meetings with Bulgarian competitors aimed at maintaining dialogue between the Presidency and successful young Bulgarians.
This year, Bulgarian students won a total of 20 medals at the international Olympiads in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology — two gold, nine silver and nine bronze medals. All Bulgarian participants in the four Olympiads won medals.
“I see Bulgaria’s future in you,” Iotova told the students, highlighting their potential and abilities, which place them among the best in the world.
She said that behind each medal were years of dedicated preparation, countless hours of solving problems, laboratory work and perseverance. According to Iotova, the qualities the competitors have developed — curiosity, discipline, critical thinking and a desire to build on their achievements — will be important for the development of society in the years ahead.
Iotova encouraged the students to continue their education in Bulgaria and expressed confidence that the country would provide the necessary conditions for scientific research and technological development.
The President also highlighted the efforts of the teachers, scientists and mentors working with Bulgaria’s competitors. She said their dedication had helped Bulgaria remain among the respected participants in the world’s most prestigious international science Olympiads for decades.
The meeting also addressed the conditions in which students prepare for the competitions. Participants pointed to significant differences in educational and development opportunities between Sofia and other cities, which contribute to the small number of Olympiad participants from outside the capital. They also discussed gaps between school education and Olympiad preparation, a lack of adequate facilities and the need for greater motivation among both students and teachers.
Iotova thanked the students for sharing their experiences and their views on Bulgarian education and preparation for international competitions. She encouraged them to be confident in their abilities, pursue their ambitions and continue developing their skills, while calling on institutions to address the difficulties they face.
The President and the leadership of the Association of Bulgarian Science Olympiad Teams agreed on the need for a nationwide information campaign to inform students about opportunities to participate in international competitions.
Iotova expressed her support for the young competitors and encouraged them to remain active and pass on their experience and knowledge to younger students.
She also expressed her expectation of strong results from the teams whose international competitions are still to come, saying she looked forward to welcoming the remaining competitors with medals at the end of the year.
