Twice as many students admitted to Sofia high schools "by illness"

Nearly twice as many students gained admission to Sofia's high schools after the 7th grade through an "illness" admission process, according to data from the Regional Education Management Office. These students were not admitted based on their external assessment scores. The admissions process allows for children to be accepted without meeting the standard academic criteria. The Regional Education Management Office provided this information in response to an inquiry from the newspaper "Sega." The exact number of students admitted through this method was not specified, but the increase is described as nearly double compared to previous years. This practice raises questions about fairness and meritocracy in the Bulgarian education system, particularly in the capital city where competition for prestigious high schools is intense. The report implies that these admissions bypass the regular ranking system based on national exams, potentially disadvantaging students who performed well academically. The specific criteria or reasons for admitting students "by illness" are not detailed in the provided information, but it suggests a loophole or a special provision being widely utilized. The implications for the overall quality of education and the integrity of the admission process are significant.