Children’s attitude toward different types of primary schools in Bulgaria

Abstract

This paper presents the results of research of children’s attitude toward education and atmosphere at primary school – what they like, which relationships exist among students and between students and classroom teachers, which activities are available during their free time at school and outside of it, and how they understand and spend their time with others at school. The research is focused on studying personal attitude, feelings of children, as well as choice and real opportunities of different types of schools in Bulgaria. Students share their opinion and ideas of what they would have changed in their own school if they had such an opportunity. The specificity of children’s attitude towards public and private schools in the capital and large cities is especially clearly visible. Private schools applying new ideas and pedagogical philosophy are more liberal and focused on children’s style in pedagogical interaction, have more flexible organization of educational process and school life inside and outside the classroom. Students’opinion about national and private schools as well as schools located in capital, capital area and provinces differs significantly. This is due to specifics of educational environment and different quality of education in different types of primary schools in Bulgaria.