The opportunity of gaining an education or professional training for adults in prison is highly recommended, but is not mandatory.
In Bulgaria, prison schools are part of the general educational system and they follow the same standards and curriculum as any other school in the country. Under Bulgarian law, prisoners who attend school or other forms of training reduce the term of their punishment, with two days of education or training counting as three days of imprisonment. Involvement in educational, training and qualification activities is important as it will be taken into account when prison authorities and the court are assessing your level of rehabilitation and chances for successful reintegration.
Read more about the type of education you are interested in:
According to Bulgarian Constitution, school education up to the age of 16 is compulsory. Juvenile prisoners up to this age must be enrolled in school education.
What human rights violations may there be?
If you are not given the chance to complete elementary education which is compulsory in Bulgaria, as a minor or youth, it may lead to a violation against the right to education.
How to complain
If you believe that you have been unlawfully barred from gaining an education in prison, you should complain to the prison administration. Read more about how to complain.
The State does not have an obligation to ensure educational programs for adults. However, it is highly recommended that the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and education is available in prisons for adults as well, including for remand prisoners. The extent to which the prison must provide these opportunities depends on its resources.
Therefore, you can apply for the opportunity to undergo professional training or to take a specific course when they are available, but you do not have the right to demand that the prison administration provides them. You can request to be transferred from one prison to another for the purpose of enrolling in school education or professional training programmes.
Prisoners, serving their sentence in open-type prison dormitories can attend general schools or other training activities, organised in the same town or village as the prison dormitory.
The certificate which you receive for primary or secondary education, professional training or other courses, should not mention that you obtained them in prison.