Sofia parents looking to secure spots for their children in nurseries and kindergartens can now apply for more than 13,000 available vacancies, as the application process officially begins today.
The total number of spots offered across various childcare institutions amounts to 13,089, covering a range of age groups and facility types.
According to the municipality’s announcement, the breakdown of available spots is as follows:
- 5,575 places in independent nurseries or nursery groups within kindergartens.
- 5,576 spots in the first kindergarten group.
- 1,717 places in preschool groups at municipal schools.
- 221 places designated for children born in 2021, 2020, and 2019.
Application Process and Deadlines
Parents have until noon on May 8 to submit their applications for their children’s admission. The municipality has emphasized the importance of ensuring address details are up to date and correctly declaring any criteria for priority consideration.
However, officials clarified that the timing of application submission does not influence the ranking process, alleviating concerns about early submissions providing an advantage.
The first general ranking of applicants is scheduled to take place on May 9, 2025, under civil oversight, ensuring transparency and fairness. Additional ranking rounds will follow on May 23 and June 6, providing further opportunities for placement.
Expanding Capacity to Meet Growing Demand
With the ongoing demand for childcare facilities in Sofia, the municipality has also outlined plans for further expansion.
By the end of 2025, three new kindergartens and seven newly built extensions of existing facilities will contribute an additional 1,170 spots to the system. These will be distributed as follows:
- 591 spots in newly built kindergartens.
- 579 spots in expanded facilities attached to existing kindergartens.
These additional places will be incorporated into the application system as soon as the new buildings become operational, ensuring that more families can benefit from municipal childcare services.
Addressing the Shortage of Childcare Spaces
Despite continuous efforts to increase available spots, Sofia has long faced challenges in meeting the high demand for kindergartens and nurseries, particularly in fast-growing neighborhoods.
Parents have previously raised concerns about insufficient spots, prompting the municipality to accelerate the construction of new facilities.
Deputy Mayor for Education Todor Chobanov acknowledged the challenge but expressed optimism about the municipality’s ability to provide more opportunities for children in the coming years.
“Our goal is to ensure that every child in Sofia has access to quality early childhood education. The construction of new facilities is a step toward addressing the demand and improving the overall capacity of our municipal kindergarten system,” Chobanov stated.
Next Steps for Parents
Parents are urged to carefully review the admission criteria and ensure that all necessary documents are correctly submitted before the May 8 deadline.
The online application portal is expected to experience high traffic, and officials recommend completing submissions well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical issues.
With thousands of spots now open and more to be added by year-end, Sofia’s childcare system is set to expand significantly, bringing relief to many families in search of reliable kindergarten and nursery placements.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members