Article published on: 2007-05-04

The growth of the Bulgarian economy is directly linked to the so much needed education reform, deputy chairwoman of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIB) Sasha Bezuhanova said Sunday for the private bTV channel.

The companies want to see competent employers at the labour market, she said and added that the market develops very dynamically and the education system in the country is seriously lagging behind.

For the first time since Bulgaria became a democratic country 17 years ago, the education issue needs serious public attention and the link between the business and the higher education is not working, Bezuhanova added.

The business helps different educational programs but only when answer their needs. It is imperative that the help happens in a state framework that is adequate to the economic goals, she believes.

The fact that many Bulgarians go to work abroad is not something to worry about because this way they gain more experience and when they see that labour environment in Bulgaria is improving they will come back, Bezuhanova concluded.

Bulgaria's biggest challenge at the moment is to clearly formulate and reach a consensus on country's long-term economic program, she said.

Source: www.novinite.com and www.sofianewsagency.com