EKIP– Expert Club for Economics and Politics A Different Opinion
On October 10, 1977, the National High School for Ancient Languages and Cultures (NGDEK) "Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher" was opened by the Committee for Culture in Sofia. The high school was opened mainly thanks to the then advocacy of Professor Alexander Fol and Lyudmila Zhivkova. The founding of NGDEK practically marked the revival of classical education in the modern history of Bulgaria. To this day, the high school remains one of the few in Europe and the only one in our country that offers such in-depth training in ancient languages and cultures.
Gergina Toncheva – a teacher of Bulgarian language and literature at the First German High School – was appointed as the director of the newly founded high school, and she remained in this position until 2010. On 17.05.2003, she was awarded the Stara Planina Order for outstanding contribution to Bulgarian culture and education, mainly due to her activities as director of NGDEK. Later in 2007, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the high school, she was awarded a distinction by Sofia University. After Toncheva left, the position of director was taken by Mariela Papazova, who holds this position to this day.
The high school specializes in studying ancient languages such as Latin, Ancient Greek and Old Bulgarian, as well as ancient literature, culture, history, culture and philosophy. Later, on 7.12.1994, by decision of the Academic Council of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", NGDEK acquired the status of a lyceum at the university. The course of study at the high school is 5 years, and takes place in 2 stages - gymnasium and lyceum. The first stage, which lasts from 8 to 10 grades, includes training in humanitarian and general education disciplines with intensive study of both ancient and modern languages.
In the second stage, which lasts through grades 11 and 12, only special and specialized subjects are studied. Among the most unique and popular profiles of the high school lyceum level are "Latin Studies" (in-depth study of Latin and Italian), "Greek Studies" (ancient Greek and modern Greek), "Philosophy and Cultural Studies" and "History and Civilization".
Among those who graduated from NGDEK are a number of famous Bulgarian personalities, public figures, and politicians, such as rapper Itso Hazarta, BSP chairman Kornelia Ninova, radio host Petar Volgin, UDF chairman Bozhidar Lukarski, actor Mihail Bilalov, director Yavor Gardev, and author and screenwriter Ivo Siromakhov.
Image source: ngdek.com
