Teaching about the Roma Genocide

 Inclusion of the topic in the school curriculum

As per OSCE report “Education on the Holocaust and on Anti-Semitism”, page 74, the topic of Holocaust is integrated into individual mandatory subjects, including the history, ethics and law. Within the history curriculum, the issue is addressed in European history of the 20th century (10th grade), Bulgarian history of the 20th century (11th grade), and in Balkan Peninsula history of the 20th century (12th grade). The Holocaust is also addressed in a chapter on politics and law, and on democracy and totalitarian regimes as part of the subject ethics and law (10th grade).

With regard to Bulgarian history, students are taught that Bulgaria did not allow the Holocaust on its territory and that the Bulgarians stood decisively against the implementation of the Law for Protection of the Nation, which was passed under the pressure of National Socialist Germany. This is why, in Bulgaria, more emphasis is placed on the saving of the Bulgarian Jews than on the Holocaust.

 Inclusion of the topic in the school textbooks

The Ministry of Education informed the ODIHR that there is no definition of the Holocaust in school textbooks but "only the explanation of historical facts". (“Education on the Holocaust and on Anti-Semitism”, page 74)

 Training of teachers and education professionals

No special training is provided for teachers. However, in 2002, training on how to celebrate 10 March - the Day of the Holocaust and Saving of the Bulgarian Jews - was organised for teachers in all twenty-eight regions of Bulgaria. (“Education on the Holocaust and on Anti-Semitism”, page 74)

 Particular activities undertaken at the level of education institutions

A Holocaust memorial day is marked in schools with a special lesson called “10th March: Lesson of Dignity”. The day involves meetings with survivors, visits to monuments and sites, art and essay competitions on the topic, and research into different information sources (photos, documents, literary texts, and newspaper articles). (“Education on the Holocaust and on Anti-Semitism”, page 74)

The document “CAHROM (2013)15 Overview on the Recognition of the Genocide of Roma and Sinti (Pharrajimos / Samudaripen) during World War II and on Related Remembrance Days in member States of the Council of Europe”, page 7, states that the teaching about the Holocaust and crimes against humanity is embedded in State educational requirements. The Centre for Jewish Studies and the regional structures of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science provide schools across the country with materials to support the 10th March commemoration. Events are held yearly in schools throughout the country. Such activities included: giving lessons entitled “10th March: Lesson on dignity”, which are specifically dedicated to Holocaust commemoration, and are delivered in classes on history and civilization, Bulgarian language and literature, arts and philosophy as well as during the Class Master’s class; studying monuments and sites related to the history of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews, carried out in the form of extracurricular activities; organising and holding meetings with persons who witnessed the historical events of 1943; tracing different sources of information -  such as photos, documents, newspapers, magazines and texts – about the events in 1943; organising drawing, poem or essay competitions with the theme of “10th March: Lesson of dignity” and watching documentaries and films telling the story of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews. The University Centre for Jewish Studies, based at Sofia University, supports many of these educational activities.