Use and Impact of PIRLS
Bulgaria has participated in PIRLS since its inception in 2001. Bulgaria also participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) at Grade 8 in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007, and in TIMSS 2015 at Grade 4 after skipping the TIMSS 2011 cycle. Another important study Bulgaria has participated in every three years since 2001 (with the exception of 2003) is the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA frameworks focus on the practical application of student knowledge, and study results have shown that education in Bulgaria is theoretically oriented with little practical application. These international studies have made it clear that education in Bulgaria is in need of modernization. According to the international reports from these studies, the school year in Bulgaria was one of the shortest among participating countries, and the average number of hours per year that students spent studying was comparatively lower than that of other countries. The new Preschool and School Education Act outlined the groundwork for educational reform in Bulgaria by improving the quality of school education and student outcomes, and by ensuring students are well prepared when they eventually enter a competitive job market.18 Bulgaria’s participation in TIMSS, PIRLS, and PISA, among other international educational studies, also has allowed its education professionals to develop expertise in assessment, evaluation, educational research, and testing. Many publications—including articles, those in workshops, and media commentary—have discussed Bulgarian participation in PIRLS, and research activities connected with the achievement of Bulgarian students in PIRLS have been presented at conferences and meetings.