NGDEK

National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures
Национална гимназия за древни езици и култури „Св. Константин-Кирил Философ“
Location
16 Baba Street, Moderno predgradie
Second campus: 63 Saints Cyril and Methodius Street, Vazrazhdane district

Sofia

Bulgaria
Information
Other nameNGDEK
School typeClassical secondary school
MottoПомогни ми да тя возвися!
(Help me uplift you!)
Patron saint
Saint Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher
Established10 October 1977 (1977-10-10)
FoundersLyudmila Zhivkova
Alexander Fol
AuthorityMinistry of Culture
Principal
Mariela Papazova
Grades5–12
EnrolmentApproximately 550[citation needed]
AffiliationSofia University
Websitengdek.com

The National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures "Saint Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher" (Bulgarian: Национална гимназия за древни езици и култури „Св. Константин-Кирил Философ“), abbreviated NGDEK (Bulgarian: НГДЕК), is a Bulgarian national classical secondary school in Sofia. It is administered by the Ministry of Culture and has the status of a lyceum affiliated with Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

History and administration

The school opened in Sofia on 10 October 1977 under the Committee for Culture, with the support of Lyudmila Zhivkova and Professor Alexander Fol. Its first principal was Gergina Toncheva, who held the position from the school's foundation until 8 November 2010.

Following Toncheva's retirement, the Ministry of Culture appointed Silvia Bakardzhieva, previously an Ancient Greek teacher and deputy principal responsible for academic affairs, as principal. When Bakardzhieva went on maternity leave in 2012, she was replaced by Mariela Papazova, a history teacher at the school.

In 2013, the disciplinary dismissal of four teachers prompted protests and disagreements among teachers, parents and alumni. Papazova won the competitive selection for principal in 2015 and again in March 2024. As of November 2026, the school's website lists her as principal.

In late 2023, parents, former teachers and alumni publicly raised concerns about the school's administration, including uniform prices, staffing, teaching and facilities. The school was subject to institutional inspections. In December that year, Bulgarian National Television reported that teachers had submitted 47 applications to resign. Its coverage included the views of school administrators and teachers on working conditions and external pressure on the school.

Buildings

For many years, NGDEK did not have a building of its own. Until 1994, it shared the premises of 12th Secondary School "Tsar Ivan Asen II", after which it temporarily lacked a permanent teaching site. In 1995, it briefly used the building of the National School of Music "Lyubomir Pipkov" [bg], before moving to the Moderno predgradie neighbourhood.

In 2013, renovation of the Moderno predgradie building led to the relocation of classes to the former 13th Primary School near Women's Market [bg]. Use of both buildings was still documented in early 2024. The address published on the school's website is 16 Baba Street, Moderno predgradie.

Name and patronal celebration

The school celebrates its patronal feast on 11 May, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates Saints Cyril and Methodius. Celebrations include a ceremony at which the school flag is handed over to the next cohort.

On 14 February 2019, the 1,150th anniversary of the death of Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher, the word "Saint" was added to the patron's name in the school's official name. The change was marked by a ceremony at Sofia University attended by Minister of Culture Boil Banov, who presented the school with an icon.

Education

The school was granted the status of a lyceum affiliated with Sofia University by a decision of the university's Academic Council on 7 December 1994.

It provides lower secondary education in grades 5–7 and upper secondary education in grades 8–12. The school's own description divides the latter into a gymnasium stage, covering grades 8–10, and a lyceum stage, covering grades 11–12.

Lower secondary education

The three-year lower secondary programme includes additional instruction in history, ancient culture and cultural studies, as well as optional classes in Latin and a modern foreign language. Classes are organised according to the modern language studied: English, German, French, Italian or Spanish.

After grade 7, pupils take the national external assessment examinations. To enter grade 8 at NGDEK, they compete on the same basis as applicants from other schools and take an entrance examination in history and civilisations.

Gymnasium and lyceum stages

The curriculum combines humanities, natural sciences and mathematics. The ancient languages taught include Latin, Ancient Greek and Old Bulgarian. The humanities profile includes additional study of Bulgarian language and literature, history and civilisations, and philosophy.

Graduation involves state matriculation examinations and the defence of a diploma project before a panel appointed by the principal or by a faculty dean at Sofia University.

Curriculum and organisation

The curricula were revised following the introduction of Bulgaria's Preschool and School Education Act. The school's published description distinguishes between the curriculum for pupils admitted after 2017 and earlier programmes. Subjects, teaching hours and forms of instruction are governed by the curriculum applicable to each cohort. The school publishes separate lower and upper secondary curricula, including those for the 2026–2027 academic year.

An earlier description of the school's organisation gives a minimum class size of 18 pupils and a maximum of 26.[citation needed]

Extracurricular activities

The school has clubs, sports sections, choirs and theatre groups. Activities include art, literature and creative writing, debating, military history, Sanskrit and volunteering.

The school's choral tradition began in 1981 with the establishment of a youth choir performing early Bulgarian music, followed by a women's choir performing folk music. The founder and first conductor was Lyudmila Dobrinova. Her work was continued by Daniel Ivanov, a former pupil of the school. The ensembles perform in Bulgaria and abroad.

Traditions and cultural activities

The school's traditions include an Antiquity Festival, during which pupils dress in costume and perform works by ancient Greek and Roman authors. The festival is also known within the school community as "Saturnalia".[citation needed]

A silver ring bearing the school's initials is a symbol of graduation. A 2022 Bulgarian News Agency report describes the presentation of rings as a tradition for graduating pupils, without limiting it to those graduating with distinction.

In the late 1980s, the school began publishing Lyuboslovie, an irregular publication featuring work by pupils, teachers and alumni. The name was also used for a subject taught to grade 8 pupils by Gergina Toncheva. A new issue of the school almanac appeared in 2021 after a thirteen-year interruption.

The origins of the rock band B.T.R. are associated with NGDEK pupils in the 1980s. Guitarist Slavcho Nikolov discussed the band's school beginnings in a 2023 interview.

Notable teachers

The following people have taught at the school.

Notable alumni

Alumni of the school include the following people.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Гимназията" [The school] (in Bulgarian). NGDEK. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  2. ↑ "Протест срещу директорката на Класическата гимназия заради уволнения" [Protest against the principal of the Classical School over dismissals]. Dir.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Atanasova, Vidka (9 January 2024). "На фона на проверки. Търси се нов директор на класическата гимназия" [Amid inspections, a new principal is sought for the Classical School] (in Bulgarian). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  4. ↑ "Старият директор остава начело на НГДЕК" [The incumbent principal remains at the head of NGDEK]. Sega (in Bulgarian). 8 March 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  5. ↑ "Преподаватели" [Teaching staff] (in Bulgarian). NGDEK. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  6. ↑ "Над 40 учители от НГДЕК подадоха оставки. Защо?" [More than 40 NGDEK teachers have submitted their resignations. Why?] (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian National Television. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Bulgarian News Agency (12 October 2022). "Националната гимназия за древни езици и култури навърши 45 години" [The National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures turns 45]. Glasove (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  8. ↑ "Класическата гимназия останала без сграда заради удължаван два пъти ремонт" [The Classical School was left without premises after renovation was extended twice]. OFFNews (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Нормативни документи и файлове" [Regulations, documents and files] (in Bulgarian). NGDEK. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  10. ↑ "С цветя на паметника на светите братя празнува Класическата гимназия" [The Classical School celebrates with flowers at the monument to the saintly brothers]. 24 Chasa (in Bulgarian). 11 May 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  11. ↑ Milanova, Yoana (14 February 2019). "„Свети Константин-Кирил Философ" е новото име на НГДЕК" ["Saint Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher" is NGDEK's new name] (in Bulgarian). BNT News. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Обучение" [Education] (in Bulgarian). NGDEK. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Извънкласни дейности" [Extracurricular activities] (in Bulgarian). NGDEK. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  14. ↑ "За Любословие" [About Lyuboslovie]. Lyuboslovie (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  15. ↑ "Изложба в Националната библиотека: Любословие подир „Любословие"" [An exhibition at the National Library: Lyuboslovie after "Lyuboslovie"]. Nabore (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  16. ↑ "Славчо Николов: С новото си звучене хитовете на Б.Т.Р. са тръпка и за нас самите" [Slavcho Nikolov: Hearing B.T.R.'s hits in their new arrangements is a thrill for us too]. Impressio, Dir.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  17. 1 2 "И след 40 години Класическата гимназия отглежда гении" [After 40 years, the Classical School is still nurturing geniuses]. Bulgaria Dnes (in Bulgarian).
  18. ↑ "Класици превземат политиката" [Classics graduates move into politics]. Bulgaria Dnes (in Bulgarian).
  19. ↑ "Избори за президент и вицепрезидент — втори тур. Обобщени данни" [Presidential and vice-presidential elections: second round, aggregate results] (in Bulgarian). Central Election Commission. Retrieved 2 November 2026.