The Parliamentary group of the opposition party Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) asked the Parliament to contribute to solving the problem of teachers’ protests in the country.

Mediapool.bg quoted DSB leader Ivan Kostov as saying that if a strike was called only several months or a year after the Parliament had approved national programme for education, this would mean that either the programme, or its implementation is wrong.

If the Parliament approved the wrong programme, it is to blame for the teachers’ protests, he said.

An open discussion with the Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev on the problem was needed, according to Kostov. All parliamentary groups were ready for such a discussion, he said.

Education programme was an “engagement and duty” of the whole Cabinet, not only Education Minister Daniel Vulchev.

Current refusal of the ruling parties to enter into discussion was an escape from responsibility.

Teachers in Bulgaria demand a 100 per cent increase of their salaries from October 1 2007 and threaten with strike if their demands are not met.