One of the Bulgarian schools participating in ESLTI is starting the new school year with a major addition to its learning environment.
On 15 September, 68th Secondary School “Acad. Nikola Obreshkov” in Sofia opened its new Centre for Humanities, Research and Innovation, named “Voltaire”. The new centre complements the school’s existing STEM Centre for Natural Sciences, Research and Innovation “René Descartes”, bringing the two together as part of a wider educational environment for the school.
The Voltaire Centre covers 604 square metres and includes three areas dedicated to the humanities – The Power of Words, Citizens of the World and Time and Space. It also includes two computer areas and a dedicated Synergy space for inclusive education. The entire second floor of the school has been renovated to create spaces for communication, integrated learning, project work and innovation
Behind the new facilities is a clear educational idea. The school connects the centre with Voltaire’s ideas about freedom of thought, critical thinking, tolerance, civic responsibility and the power of words. The aim is therefore not simply to provide new classrooms, but to create a setting where humanities, technology and different forms of learning can meet.
There is also a direct connection with the work of ESLTI. The official opening of the centre on 30 September 2026 will coincide with the launch of the school’s first Leadership and Innovation Lab under the ESLTI project.
This is an important next step for the project in Bulgaria. Following the training of the participating school teams, the focus is now moving into the schools themselves. Through the Innovation Labs, leadership teams will work with colleagues on concrete ideas for their own school, test them in practice and look at how successful changes can become part of everyday school life.
At 68th Secondary School, that work will begin in a newly created environment designed specifically around learning, research, inclusion and innovation. It is a fitting setting for the next phase of the school’s participation in ESLTI.
The original article from 68th Secondary School is available here (in Bulgarian).