Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SOFIA665
2009-11-23 12:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIA: NEW EDUCATION MINISTER APPOINTED
how-toVZCZCXRO5717 OO RUEHIK DE RUEHSF #0665 3271230 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 231230Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6489 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SOFIA 000665
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EFIN ECON KIPR KJUS BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: NEW EDUCATION MINISTER APPOINTED
REF: SOFIA 652
UNCLAS SOFIA 000665
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EFIN ECON KIPR KJUS BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: NEW EDUCATION MINISTER APPOINTED
REF: SOFIA 652
1. (SBU) Prime Minister Boiko Borissov appointed Sergey
Ignatov as Minister of Education, Youth and Science on
November 17 after the previous minister, Yordanka Fandakova,
was elected mayor of Sofia. Contacts tell us he learned of
his appointment minutes prior to the Prime Minister's
announcement in Parliament. A surprised Ignatov immediately
accepted the nomination.
2. (SBU) Ignatov, 49, holds a PhD in Egyptology and was the
rector of New Bulgarian University in Sofia (2002-2009) and
director of its Institute of Egyptology (2006-2009) prior to
taking the job of Deputy Education Minister in the Borissov
government. Ignatov calls himself a "modern reformer." He
is a tough critic of state universities, calling their
rectors "old" and their management style "conservative."
Ignatov has strong opinions on the quality of Bulgarian
education and science. He calls Bulgarian education
old-fashioned and "Soviet": focused on lectures, not on the
students. He is reportedly adored by students. His lectures
were normally over-subscribed, with students from outside
universities clammoring for seats. Following in Fandakova's
footsteps, one of Ignatov's priorities will be to modernize
curriculum, instruction, and the education system. He also
shares Fandakova's vision that the Bulgarian Academy of
Sciences is 20 years behind the times and needs serious
reform and modernization.
SUTTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EFIN ECON KIPR KJUS BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: NEW EDUCATION MINISTER APPOINTED
REF: SOFIA 652
1. (SBU) Prime Minister Boiko Borissov appointed Sergey
Ignatov as Minister of Education, Youth and Science on
November 17 after the previous minister, Yordanka Fandakova,
was elected mayor of Sofia. Contacts tell us he learned of
his appointment minutes prior to the Prime Minister's
announcement in Parliament. A surprised Ignatov immediately
accepted the nomination.
2. (SBU) Ignatov, 49, holds a PhD in Egyptology and was the
rector of New Bulgarian University in Sofia (2002-2009) and
director of its Institute of Egyptology (2006-2009) prior to
taking the job of Deputy Education Minister in the Borissov
government. Ignatov calls himself a "modern reformer." He
is a tough critic of state universities, calling their
rectors "old" and their management style "conservative."
Ignatov has strong opinions on the quality of Bulgarian
education and science. He calls Bulgarian education
old-fashioned and "Soviet": focused on lectures, not on the
students. He is reportedly adored by students. His lectures
were normally over-subscribed, with students from outside
universities clammoring for seats. Following in Fandakova's
footsteps, one of Ignatov's priorities will be to modernize
curriculum, instruction, and the education system. He also
shares Fandakova's vision that the Bulgarian Academy of
Sciences is 20 years behind the times and needs serious
reform and modernization.
SUTTON