20.04.2016

For the fifth consecutive year, the National Network for Children (NNC) presented its annual report  "Notebook 2016: What average grade does the State get in child care services?". For the first time, the presentation was carried out simultaneously in 8 regions across the country. Among the many regions is the Northeastern region, including Varna city and Dobrich town. As a regional coordinator, the Gavroche Association organized the presentation of Notebook 2016 to local authorities, NGOs, schools and kindergartens representatives, university students and teachers. The event was held in the main hall of the Regional Health Inspectorate in Varna and was hosted by Gergana Encheva. Representatives of various organizations , members of the NNC from the region, gave a presentation on the different topics in the Notebook.

The purpose of the document was to review the progress of implementation of over 20 commitments the State had made to the children in Bulgaria. The areas addressed and assessed by the Notebook are: General principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; Family Environment and Alternative Care; Health Care; Education and Justice. The NNC report was issued in two versions: a popular version intended for to the general public, including children, and an expert version aimed at professionals and institutions.

This year has seen little progress in government policies for children, thus the average final grade was assessed at a Satisfactory 3.28, this grade being the highest average annual grade given by Notebook 2016 up to date. (The grading system in Bulgaria is based on a scale of 2.00 - 6.00 maximum, with a minimum pass-mark of 3.00)

The highest score was given on Health Care (Good 3.58), while the highest grade was given to Hospital and Outpatient Care (Good 4.04).
The lowest score in Notebook 2016 was given in General principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Satisfactory 2.91), where Discrimination got a Poor 2.00. For the fifth consecutive year, there has been no reported progress on the commitment to create a special unit to examine cases of discrimination against children. Our State continues to be one of the three EU countries that has no specialized ombudsman for children's rights. There are still discrimination practices and unequal treatment of refugee children, children with disabilities and Roma (gypsy) children in terms of their access to quality education, health care, adequate housing and social environment.

Family Environment and Alternative Care was assessed at a Satisfactory 3.00 since despite the definite commitment by the State, there still lacks a comprehensive approach in the support of children and family.

" Education and Justice received identical rating (Good 3.54). In Education, the adoption of the Law of Pre-school and School Education was considered a success. However, the early school leaving of children remains an alarming problem.

For the preparation of Notebook 2016  the NNC also consulted  children and youths  by setting up 9 focus groups and an online survey, which included 120 children aged 12-18 years from across the country. One focus group was held in Varna. The children gave the highest grade to Justice, namely for the State's commitment to raise awareness on child safety on the Internet. Children's evaluation for this area was a Satisfactory 3.88. The children gave the lowest grade to the State for General Principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, where Child Poverty got an average grade of Satisfactory 2.61.