Ivan Vazov Language High School – traditions and innovations
Ivan Vazov Language High School Plovdiv is a leading high school in Bulgaria with a time-tested tradition in foreign language education and the upbringing of critically thinking, creative and socially-responsible young people. The combination between rich history, innovative educational practices and the commitment to the development of the students results in it being a highly popular choice.
History and traditions
It all started on 5th August 1958 when ordinance № 1 – 4272 by the Ministry of Education and Culture changes the status of the school from Second Co-ed High School into the first in the country Russian Language High School. The Principal Jordan Danchev and 28 young teachers accepted the first students who came from 14 municipalities from South Bulgaria and from Tolbuhin and Varna municipalities from Northern Bulgaria. In the first years the main accent was the learning of Russian and then was when the traditions in the intensive language learning started.
In 1970 a brand new modern learning complex was built: a main learning building and a dormitory which are still home to the persistent work and success.
From 1971 Ivan Vazov Language High School was amongst the first Bulgarian schools associated by the UN organization for education, science and culture UNIESCO, which allowed the opportunity for the school to be incorporated in the European community and culture.
Years passed by and behind the success and the high results stood the commitment of the other Principals: Jordan Danchev, Todor Kalchev, Aksiyski, Fema Boneva, Magdalena Georgieva, Lubomir Kovachev and the name of Mariana Dimitrova who had a key role in the contemporary modern image of the high school.
In 1990 as a result of the economic and political changes and the foresight of the Principal Mariana Dimitrova the school was transformed into a Language High School which offered English, German, French, Spanish and Italian as a first foreign language and Russian as the second. This is how ‘The Russian Language High School’ became ‘The Language High School’ and opened even wider the doors to the world for its students.
From 1999 on the school has been involved in the bilingual education agreement between the Ministry of education, culture and sport in the Kingdom of Spain and the Ministry of education and culture in Bulgaria. The education is provided by highly qualified Bulgarian and Spanish teachers. Even before the end of their studies, the students successfully pass the DELE exams and obtain internationally recognized certificates in the language by one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in Spain – Cervantes Institute. In 2015 Ivan Vazov Language High School received the honor to become an exam center of the Institute and thus provides the opportunity to applicants all over South Bulgaria to sit it. Every year students from the Spanish classes are involved in initiatives and competitions organized by the Spanish Embassy’s Education Department and annually participate in the National Theatre Competition in the language. Educational trips are taking place in Spain yearly.
From 2006 our students receive an Italian Diploma Certificate in compliance with the agreement between Bulgaria and Italy in the educational field. After sitting an exam at our school, the Italian Embassy awards the graduates an official document which provides access to Italian Universities on equal conditions with other native Italian graduates without the need for them to sit an exam in the language. The students are given the chance to practice the language in Italy due to school trips held annually. Every year our students work as intern interpreters and translators for Italian exhibitors at the Sapori d’Italia fair.
In 2010 Ivan Vazov Language High School was officially authorized by the Education Ministries in Germany and Bulgaria for its work on the German Language Diploma project, with the Diploma being issued by the Confederation of the Ministers of Education in Germany. Our High School is a preparatory exam center for the German Language Diploma – a time-limitless certificate which proves the level of speaking the language at B2/C1 according to the Common European Framework.
For more than 20 years, in agreement with the Pushkin State Institute in Russian Language in Moscow, the High School is an exam center for the internationally recognized certificates Threshold level (B1) and Business Communication in Russian.
For almost 30 years the school has been in close cooperation with the French Culture Institute in Bulgaria. Undergraduates from the French classes participate annually in mutual initiatives like the Ronsard program, which connects Bulgarian high schools with French Academies within Erasmus +, the project Choice for the Goncourt Award in Bulgaria and many others.
With a decree № 1517 from May 19th 1983 by the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria the school was honored Order of Cyril and Methodius, First Degree.
By resolution of Plovdiv Municipal Assembly from May 15th 2003 Ivan Vazov Language High School was awarded Badge of Honor of Plovdiv town.
In 2006 Plovdiv Municipal Assembly again honored the school the Badge for special merits in the educational deeds in Plovdiv on the occasion of the Bulgarian Culture and Literacy Day.
In 2015 the school received the Global School award by the Ministry of External Affairs of Bulgaria.
History and Innovations
Within only a couple of years (from 2016 to 2019) using purposeful and consistent policy for integrating technology, the school managed to incorporate contemporary digital technologies and educational models which are also the standard for quality in education.
In 2017 Google Workspace Cloud Platform was introduced in education. Just for one year the school personnel transferred all administrative processes to the Cloud, easing heavy administration and improving communication between all participants in the educational process.
In October 2018 the school introduced the One to One Learning Method (a device for every student and teacher) in 8th grade with French. Since then the students have been using electronic contents of the lessons created by the teachers, as well as resources organized and stored in virtual classrooms.
In 2018 Ivan Vazov High School became a School Ambassador to the European Parliament. The program aims to raise awareness amongst students about the European Union, the European Citizenship and Parliamentary Democracy and to incite them to actively participate in the democratic processes.
From school-year 2019-2020 the High School became part of the large community of the Innovative schools in Bulgaria with the project Ivan Vazov Language High School – a School in the Cloud. The innovation lasted four school-years during which teachers and students transformed the teaching and learning process by working One to One (1:1).
The official introduction of the 1:1 (One to One) Project, through which Ivan Vazov High School became the first school in Bulgaria where lessons can take place anywhere and anytime, in a team or individually, was on April 12th 2019. With great excitement the staff and the students from grade 8th with French as their first language welcomed the official guests of the event: the Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev, the Mayor of Plovdiv Region – Engineer Ivan Totev, the Deputy Mayor in Education in Plovdiv Region – Stefan Stoyanov, the Head of Regional Education Management in Plovdiv – Ivanka Kirkova.
In 2019 again the school was announced to be an e-Twinning school and in two successive years 2019 – 2020 an Acer Innovative School.
In 2019 the high school was proclaimed the first Google Reference School in Bulgaria by Dean Stokes – Manager Implementation of G Suite in education in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He congratulated the Principal Vihra Eramyan saying:
‘You must be proud because in the UK out of 30 000 schools not more than 50 are Google Reference ones.‘
In 2022 the brand new STEM Center Tech Lab opened up to the future generations of inventors. Contemporary learning environment and modern technology support the students in the realization of projects related to sustainable development and environmental protection, finding creative solutions to global issues.
From school-year 2023 – 2024 students and teachers start working on the second innovation within the Innovative Schools Program by introducing a new school subject – Applied Digital Skills in Foreign Languages. The integrated subject combines mastering digital skills and the practical use of foreign languages in real technological contexts.
On December 1st 2023 the French Ambassador Mr Joel Meyer, together with the Councilor of Collaboration and Culture and Head of the French Institute in Bulgaria Mr Luck Levi, Deputy-councilor of Collaboration and Culture and Attache on the Educational Collaboration between Bulgaria and France in the French Embassy – Ms Claudia Calvo, honored Principal Vihra Eramyan ‘LabelFrancEducation’ badge, awarded by the Ministry of Europe and External Affairs of the Republic of France for high achievements in teaching French in French.
On September 26th 2024 another step in the direction of creating modern educational environment in Ivan Vazov Language High School was taken – the new multipurpose sports hall was opened.
The Future…
Ivan Vazov Language High School in Plovdiv does gain strength from its experience but it doesn’t stop looking for new directions and solutions. Focusing on the future, the school continues to create the environment in which knowledge becomes skill and studying – adventure. Young people not only study here but they also learn to understand, to express themselves, to think critically and to act responsibly.
‚For a better future…’