End of the “Wheel of Fortune” at the Italian Lyceum… If you're wondering what that is, we'll remind you. We will also remind you what we wrote in FACTS on the subject, because the situation at the school is already different… For the reassurance of students and parents above all. And the situation is different, because the director of the Italian Lyceum, Ivan Kapurdov, was dismissed from his post. This was done by order of Acting Minister of Culture Naiden Todorov. The reason is that there has been tension built up over the last year in the elite school, which was provoked by the actions of the director Kapurdov and one of his deputies – Alexander Ivanov, who in the meantime has himself asked to leave. The decision of the Ministry of Culture comes after numerous complaints and signals from parents and the Board of Trustees of the National Educational Complex for Culture and Lyceum for the Study of Italian Language and Culture against the actions of Kapurdov and Ivanov.
After a subsequent inspection by the Inspectorate at the Ministry of Culture, the only logical decision was reached – director Kapurdov to be released.
One of the last reasons is a mistake with the admission of students in the first grade
It turns out that the Ministry of Culture has received new reports against the former management of the school, and the reason is chaos with the admission of first-graders. Parents believe that Kapurdov or his close friend published invalid results of the admission procedure for the first grade on May 8 on the school's website? The exported lists were without the principal's signature and without the seal of the school. But the most paradoxical thing is that some of the ranked children HAD RESULTS OVER 100 POINTS, AND THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE SCORE IS EXACTLY 100!? The school calls for calm and assures that by May 18, the actual lists of ranked children for the new school year will be published.
The following message can now be seen on the school website:
Dear Parents,
on May 8 of this year invalid results of the admission procedure for the 1st grade were published on the website of the Educational Complex.
This is evident from the fact that there is no signature of the principal and no seal of the school on the exported lists. The published data also does not meet the requirements of Art. 16 (2) of Ordinance No. 1 of the Ministry of Culture, namely: "The results of the measurements of individual achievements are expressed numerically with a quantitative indicator of 0-100 points." It is not possible to declare the results 10 days earlier.
In order No.RD13/234 dated 08.01.2024, signed by the former director Dr. Ivan Kapurdov, a date has been set on which the lists of classified and accepted children will be published - May 18 of this year. This is done by order of the director and seal of the Educational Complex. The specified deadline will be met.
What is the timeline
At the beginning of the year at FAKTI, we received a number of alerts about strange things happening at the school and wrote several materials. Including, we received an answer from the director Ivan Kapurdov to the questions. Some of them were answered, others were refused. We remind you that it was worried parents who alerted us about disturbing things, and one of the most striking among them was „Wheel of Fortune“. What is this…
What is it about
The deputy director Alexander Ivanov (retired - after the dismissal of the director Ivan Kapudrov himself submitted a request to leave) – at that time at the beginning of the year, was a chemistry teacher. Parents of children from 12 “B“ class had launched a complaint against him, which is of 7 points, and is addressed to the School Board of NUKK and to the Public Council of NUKK. The seven points clearly describe problems, but the innovative writing of assessments through the “Wheel of Fortune” makes a special impression.
This is what we read in the complaint:
5. In his classes, Mr. Ivanov uses the so-called in the gambling games "Wheel of Fortune" when making an entry and exit level for module 5 “Biophysical Chemistry", WHICH AUTOMATICALLY RELEASES THE “LUCKY" WITH A SCORE 6 (no. – you spin the wheel, get lucky and sector 6 falls, you get a 6 – simple and clear). It is clear to everyone that a grade of 6 does not reflect the student's knowledge, but is the result of gambling luck, something that is unacceptable in a lesson. Mr. Ivanov clearly demonstrates his bias towards certain students, whom he tolerates, and gives others low marks, inconsistent with the knowledge and skills shown during the learning process. In his work, Mr. Ivanov is not impartial, he has prejudices and does not create conditions for equality of all students.
It was extremely “modern“ approach to writing an assessment, but does it match the Ministry of Education curriculum? Or is it spelled out in the Regulation on the work of the NUKK by the Ministry of Culture?
In another appeal from 12 “B“ class, again associated with Alexander Ivanov, we read:
1. Complaint from parents and students of 12th grade B at NUKKLIIEK, addressed to the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Regional Department of Education - Sofia-city and to the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Bulgaria.
- Complaint from (no. – we will save the name) for psychological harassment;
- the behavior of Alexander Ivanov “contradicts good teaching practices and ethical rules in exercising the teaching profession and tramples on the honor and dignity of students".
- In his classes, Ivanov regularly used etc. “Wheel of Fortune" (p.s. – we have already explained this)
- At the additional admission exam on 10.07.2023, at which Al. Ivanov confuses math and biology assignments, after which numerous complaints from parents and students against the same gentleman follow.
- Abuse of official position:
Probably due to fear and inexperience, Dr. Kapurdov completely transferred the management to his deputy director Al. Ivanov and the former deputy director Evg. Stoynovska. The “de facto" is managed by them. Started “clearing personal accounts" and this is obvious: experienced colleagues were removed and forced to leave. Other colleagues were and are being treated inadmissibly.
-- reduction of BEL and mathematics classes for 7th grade
-- unification of classes in foreign language classes, which is contrary to the Ordinance on work in the school. This caused extreme dissatisfaction among the parents, who will notify the Ministry of Education and Culture.
-- Receives funds in the amount of over BGN 500 for fuel, and everyone knows that he lives in Studenski Grad (b.r.-Al. Ivanov)
-- Personal possession of school seal
- HIS INTENT TO MAKE NUCC A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL, CURRICULUM CHANGE (n.b. – such changes can be made by decision of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and the Embassy of Italy)
- It is not clear for what reasons Al. Ivanov began to be responsible, in addition to HIGH SCHOOL AND PRE-HIGH SCHOOL STAGE, for which he also receives additional payment. We ask: weren't there other colleagues who could perform this activity no worse than the gentleman?
- Alexander Ivanov has his OWN SECRETARY…
- Stays after hours until 21:00/22:00 every day. The collective is puzzled?!
- A worrying signal from parents that Mrs. brags that her close friend will prepare the exam materials for 1st grade. We remind you that very recently she opened a center for training first graders.
Alexander Ivanov does not speak Italian! How does he manage the school and is the deputy principal?
An answer from the Ministry of Culture to the NUKK School Board follows:
“Dear Mr. Panchev,
In response to your report to the Minister of Culture, Mr. Krastyu Krastev, registered under No. 92-00-574/08.11.2023, in which, in your capacity as the chairman of the School Board of NUKK, you express your concern, caused by signals received from parents and teachers to you, regarding the existence of a project to amend the Ordinance No. 1 of the Ministry of Culture for admission and transfer of children and students to schools of culture for the upcoming school year, we inform you of the following:
The team of the "Performing Arts and Art Education" Directorate read the exposition in your report thoroughly and in detail. In order to clarify the questions and the facts, information was requested from the management of the National Educational Complex for Culture with a lyceum for studying Italian language and culture Gorna Banya, and in particular from the director of the educational institution - Dr. Ivan Kapurdov. We categorically state and emphasize that the texts of Ordinance No. 1 of August 12, 2016 on the reception and relocation of children and students in schools of culture, issued by the Minister of Culture, have not been changed. The conditions and order of admission, transfer and training of students remain the same, according to the prescribed texts, and in particular the activities, organization and conditions for admission to class VIII, which is your specific question in the alert. Proposals for additions or amendments to the regulation will be accepted in the Ministry of Culture UNTIL THE END OF THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR, which in practice means that the entrance exams for the academic year 2024/2025 will be held under the terms and conditions of the current regulation. (p.s. - and now there is a problem with admission to the first class????) When preparing the amendments to the normative act, the opinions and comments of all interested parties will be taken into account. The prepared draft of the Ordinance amending and supplementing Ordinance No. 1 of August 12, 2016 on admission and transfer of children and students to schools of culture will be published on the website of the Ministry of Culture and a procedure for its public discussion will be opened in the statutory period. The new regulations, if adopted, will be in force from the next academic year, and the changes and additions will be valid for the admission of children and students to NUKK for the academic year 2025/2026.“
At the same time, we also sent questions to director Ivan Kapudrov.
Here's what he answered us (with abbreviations, and na-fakti" target="_blank">you can see the full answer here):
3. Are you familiar with the “Wheel of Fortune“ practice that Deputy Director Alexander Ivanov uses in his classes?
- On the third question of the application, I REFUSE to grant access, as it does not concern a request for access to public information within the meaning of Art. 2. para. 1 ZDOI. EACH TEACHER IS AUTONOMOUS TO ORGANIZE EDUCATION IN THE CLASSES HE LEADS IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE LAW AND THE PERSONAL DIGNITY OF THE STUDENTS.
(p.s. – this answer is most interesting because the “Wheel of Fortune”, which we also wrote about, does not adequately reflect the student's knowledge, but provides him with a grade based on chance and depends on momentary luck if it falls “sector with six“ this means grade 6)
In addition, the request affects the interests of a third party. Apart from that, there is no express written consent from him to provide the requested information. In this case, it cannot be assumed that there is an overriding public interest within the meaning of §1. item 6 of the DR of ZDOI, since the requested information is not aimed at revealing corruption and abuse of power or INCREASING THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE ENTITIES under Art. 3 of ZDOI.
(note – it is about the transparency and accountability of the subjects, because the evaluation at school is relevant to knowledge, and it should not be a random sector, on which it says 6)
6. What is staff turnover?
- Regarding the sixth question of the application: Every school year there are teachers who leave and go to other schools or decide to retire. In the academic year 2022 / 2023, two teachers left, and in the academic year 2023 / 2024, one teacher.
And so, after routine answers, but also a refusal to comment on “Wheel of Fortune”, the director defended his work to the media, to FACTS, to the public. But not in front of the teachers at the school, in front of the students and parents. And especially not in front of Culture Minister Nayden Todorov, who made his decision, which brought peace back to the school.