I23

During the Turkish domination, up until the political emancipation of Bulgaria on February 19, 1878, schools were run mainly by national religious communities. Despite the challenges posed by the Turkish authorities and the Greek Church, which had spiritual control over Bulgarian communities until 1872, organized schools continued to exist throughout the country.

These schools often had very limited resources, relying only on private donations and church foundations for funding. Yet, they educated many Bulgarians who later became leaders in the struggle for religious and political freedom. These individuals, when the country gained independence, played key roles as politicians, officials, and educators, helping to build the young Bulgarian state.

Focus on Public Instruction After Emancipation

After the Russo-Turkish War, one of the first priorities of the new Bulgarian authorities was the reorganisation of public education. In