General Education

High-Quality Education

The general education program at the National Trade School in Plovdiv is based on Ordinance No. 5 of 30.11.2025 of the Ministry of Education and Science, which defines the state educational standards and the structure of curricula for general education subjects.

Key competencies are interrelated and represent a combination of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the personal development of the individual throughout life, for building an active civic position and participation in social life, as well as for their employability in the labor market.

Learning Objectives

Building competencies for comprehensive education

Bulgarian Language and Literature

The subject Bulgarian language and literature builds the foundation of competencies in Bulgarian language and reading literacy and is directly related to achieving basic, functional, and complex literacy.

The learning objectives are:

Developing students ability to search, extract, process, and use information from various information sources for solving communication tasks, as well as skills for presenting different types of information according to given parameters
Knowledge and application of literary language norms
Acquiring skills for comparing and analyzing various problems when participating in dialogue and discussion, skills for creating oral and written texts
Improving students ability to search, analyze, and synthesize information from various information sources and developing skills to process and use it for solving communication tasks
Application of literary language norms in speech practice
Improving skills for comparing and analyzing different viewpoints when participating in dialogue and discussion, skills for creating oral and written texts

Foreign Languages

The foreign language subject forms the foundation of skills for communication in foreign languages. At NTS, as a first foreign language with expanded preparation, students learn English, German, and Spanish, while as a second foreign language – English, German, and Russian. In the second high school stage, instead of the general education foreign language subject, training in a professional foreign language is provided. For general education preparation, the foreign language subject can also be studied in other languages different from those mentioned if the school curriculum provides for it.

The learning objectives are:

To enhance students language and general culture, and communication culture
To encourage students to understand their national identity in conditions of linguistic and cultural diversity
To build intercultural competencies in students and prepare them for communication with other cultural and linguistic communities
To build skills for students independent development through: initiative, creativity, problem-solving, making independent decisions, critical thinking, etc.
To develop students teamwork skills
To teach students to use information from foreign language sources
To use the foreign language as a medium of instruction for various general education subjects
To build learning skills related to understanding information, acquiring knowledge and applying it in new situations, performing analysis, synthesis, and evaluation
To create conditions for building language competencies in the respective language, including knowledge, skills, and strategies for successful communication

Mathematics

First high school stage

The subjects mathematics, physics and astronomy, biology and health education, chemistry and environmental protection, and entrepreneurship are directly related to acquiring mathematical competence and basic competencies in natural sciences and technologies. They aim to achieve mathematical and scientific literacy, acquire skills to respond to innovations and take responsibility, while building initiative and entrepreneurial skills.

The objectives of mathematics education in the first high school stage are:

Formation of logical and spatial thinking, observation skills, and mathematical competence
The formation of mathematical competence for this stage is at a cognitive, communicational, and analytical level, developing the individuals ability and desire to use mathematical methods of thinking and representation - through formulas, models, constructions, graphs, diagrams - generally speaking "working with data"
Mathematical competence for the first high school stage includes solid knowledge of facts, basic quantities, and patterns, as well as a set of cognitive and practical skills needed to solve tasks and problems through selection and application of basic methods and tools
Mathematical competence at this stage also implies taking responsibility for independently performing tasks in the learning process, as well as demonstrating attitude and choosing solutions and behaviors according to specific problems and circumstances

Mathematical competence for the first high school stage includes solid knowledge of facts, basic quantities, and patterns, as well as a set of cognitive and practical skills needed to solve tasks and problems through selection and application of basic methods and tools.

Mathematics

Second high school stage

In the second high school stage, mathematics education focuses on more complex analytical skills and the practical application of mathematical knowledge in real situations and other subject areas.

The objectives of mathematics education in the second high school stage are:

Formation of logical thinking, combinatorial skills, observation, and mathematical competence
The formation of mathematical competence for this stage is mainly at a communicational and analytical level, developing the ability to apply mathematical reasoning to solve problems in other subject areas and everyday life
Mathematical competence at this stage includes factual and theoretical knowledge in a broad context, as well as a set of cognitive and practical skills needed to solve specific problems. This means understanding a given real situation that leads to a mathematical task; solving the task using instrumental support materials (including technologies) that can aid mathematical activities, as well as deep understanding of the process

Mathematical competence at the second high school stage is mainly at a communicational and analytical level and includes factual and theoretical knowledge in a broad context, as well as a set of cognitive and practical skills needed to solve specific problems using instrumental support materials and technologies.

Natural Sciences and Technologies

Education in natural sciences and technologies prepares students for scientific literacy and develops their ability to apply scientific methods to understand the world around them, as well as to make informed decisions in their personal and professional lives.

General Education Subjects

Main academic disciplines in our program

Mathematics

Developing logical thinking and analytical skills through modern teaching methods.

Chemistry and Environmental Protection

Practical study of substances and their interactions in modern laboratories.

Physics

Experimental study of natural laws and their applications in technology.

Biology and Health Education

Research of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Geography and Economics

Study of the physical and cultural characteristics of Earth and its regions.

History and Civilizations

Analysis of historical events and processes that shape the modern world.

Bulgarian Language

Study of the native language, literature and cultural heritage.

Foreign Language

Developing language competencies for international communication in English, German, Russian, or Spanish.

Information Technology

Developing skills for working with computers and new technologies.

Philosophy

Developing critical thinking and understanding of key philosophical concepts.

Citizenship Education

Developing an active civic stance and participation in public life.

Entrepreneurship

Developing entrepreneurial skills and innovative thinking.

Physical Education

Developing physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.