Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski has proposed the introduction of profession "Application Programmer" for students from 9th to 12th grade. With this he expressed the support of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications to the project of the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASCOM) for quality curriculum which can contribute to addressing the acute shortage of staff in the software industry.

Minister Moskovski signed a letter to the National Agency for Professional Education and Training for entry of the new profession and for developing of state educational standard for it.

The BASCOM initiative envisages the qualifications and funding for training centers and teachers to be provided by the Ministry of Education and Science and the educational content by the association. The first graduates could work as junior/application programmers in 2018/2019, while by 2020 students involved in training for qualifications "Application Programmer" count will reach up to 6000 per year.

The course will be taught in big cities across the country. Students will be able to continue their higher education in any field, while working as junior programmers with working hours. Thus young people will develop professionally and acquire skills to take on responsibilities and effective teamwork.

"The majority of the students are not well oriented in the possible opportunities for professional development in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Minister Moskovski in the letter to the National Agency for Professional Education and Training.

Under the patronage of Minister Ivaylo Moskovski, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, branch organizations and leading ICT companies organized on May 17, 2016 Career Day for students. During the event, the companies presented their expectations of job applicants, as well as recommendations on what young people should focus on.