Antoaneta Karadzhova-Koleva, Headteacher of the PHT (Professional Highschool for Technology) - Smolyan
Antoaneta Karadzhova-Koleva graduated from the Smolyan Vocational School of Tourism and Construction (SPGTS) "Nikola Vaptsarov". She holds a degree in Tourism and Business Management. She has been teaching tourism for 16 years and has been Headteacher of SPGTS for six years. Previously she was assistant principal and believed that she could make the high school more popular and recognizable.
Smolyan Vocational School of Tourism and Construction "Nikola Vaptsarov" was established in 1970. The school has traditions in training students from 8 to 12 grades in catering, hospitality, construction and architecture. In 2021/2022, the school is preparing 32 students in the "Construction Technician" profession and 106 students in "Restaurant Manager". The teaching staff consists of 14 teachers.
What is it that distinguishes the Smolyan Vocational School from other schools in the district?
The modern history of the school "speaks" a lot about the successes we have achieved. We maintain the school's high rating by our regular participation and prestigious rankings in the traditional competitions in our field under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and the Association of Schools of Restaurant and Hotel Management in Bulgaria (ASRHB). Our trademark is catering events, and our genuine culinary handwriting is recognizable in every public appearance realized in the district and the region, which imposes the image of true professionals.
We create and maintain long-lasting partnerships and lasting cooperation with representatives of the tourism and construction industry, both locally and nationally. In addition, we initiate and implement charity campaigns, the latest of which is "Warm Lunch" for the frontline medics of the Bratan Shukerov Hospital - Smolyan in their fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.
How do you attract Grade 7 students to your school for the next stage of their education?
In my practice as a principal and educator, I have identified several guiding motives for prospective high school students in their school choice when implementing admissions. Often the determining factor is the role and ambition of the parent, which is also quite natural, given that those young people are not yet what they want to study in the future. Another factor in choosing a school is the general attitude of the class, classmates and friends - whether they will stay together. Finally, the descendant motive is particularly tangible - when a family member or close relative is a former high school graduate or parents have a business to pass on to their children.
One of the main problems of vocational education is the lack of facilities and trained teaching staff. How do you deal with this problem as a high school principal?
As far as the school equipment is concerned, it is not lacking; instead, its renovation is necessary to keep up with the new technologies to be adequate to the labour market.
The human resource factor is a challenge for any school manager, especially in securing vocational subjects. Trained teachers are hard to find. Then the business comes to the rescue, providing its staff to teach in schools. It is a good symbiosis because, on the one hand, students gain first-hand knowledge and skills and the business, in turn, identifies future staff.
How do you provide a natural working environment for your students?
The practical part of the training is vital for positioning students in a natural work environment. You don't become a good professional with theoretical knowledge alone; you also require practical skills. The curriculum subjects of study and production practice are implemented in a real working environment. Young chefs and waiters convincingly present the acquired knowledge and skills in the kitchen and service. Moreover, they boldly demonstrate knowledge of modern cuisine, which arouses interest among culinary enthusiasts. Future construction technicians acquire knowledge and skills on construction sites under the expert mentorship of professionals.
Which companies in the region do you partner with?
A successful business-school partnership is a proper formula for making vocational education an attractive territory for young people. In the hours set aside for teaching and production practice, students leave the specialized classrooms of the school and gain practical knowledge and skills in an original working environment. We have a successful partnership with the Tourism and Construction sectors—our proximity to the resort and the tourism sector. Pamporovo is a prerequisite for professional cooperation with catering and entertainment establishments.
Do you have information on how many graduates only rely on their high school training before getting employed and how many pursue additional forms of education and work across the country or abroad?
The statistics are in favour of those with keep studying at colleges and universities. Most of them pursue the profession while acquiring higher degrees. In doing so, they relieve and support the family budget by providing a significant part of their living expenses. We are proud to say that many of our graduates own or manage high-end dining and entertainment establishments in prestigious mountain and seaside resorts, and some are running successful businesses abroad.
You have graduated from this high school and then later returned as a teacher. Why did you choose Smolyan and this profession?
According to one study in career guidance, a person consciously chooses their profession at 14-15. It makes sense because I got behind the bar at that age and felt the challenge of the restaurant industry. No matter how much education I acquired after that, I remained a bartender at heart. To this day, I still have fun and fight stress by passing on my experience to my students in my serving and bartending classes, and at the same time, preparing competitors for national competitions in the Best Young Bartender category.
And as for the choice of residence - the magic of the mountains and my love for winter sports are serious factors for my permanent address registration.
What is your assessment of vocational education in the country?
The expansion of the culinary and tourist culture of the Bulgarian requires a different approach. New times also impose a new interpretation of teaching. We must be flexible, adaptable and competitive to overcome the challenges of the situation.
Your wish to the business that gives way to the personnel you prepare?
Based on the rule that "demand determines supply", it is understandable that the school has been striving to provide the construction and tourism industry with staff from the very beginning until today. Therefore, my appeal to business is to continue to be open to partnerships and cooperation because this is an excellent prospect for professional development and future investment in staff that will maybe work for them one day.
