Building Bulgaria’s Hydrogen School Network - Inform the Teacher Initiative

Hydrogen technologies remain relatively unknown in Bulgaria and are currently absent from secondary school curricula, despite efforts to advance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Bridging this educational gap requires swift action to:
•    introduce foundational hydrogen technology concepts in primary and secondary schools;
•    develop vocational training programs;
•    accumulate technical expertise in colleges and technical schools.

The European Hydrogen Academy Project is establishing a Network of Schools dedicated to developing and sharing teaching materials and resources for hydrogen education. To encourage the schools in Bulgaria to join, the Bulgarian Partner Trakiya University  launched the "Inform the Teacher" initiative in partnership with  the STEM Center at the Ministry of Education and Science. Teachers, as vital facilitators of knowledge, are central to this initiative’s success.

In April 2024, the first online lecture, "Hydrogen and Hydrogen Technologies – Why They Matter," introduced 14 school directors to the initiative's goals and provided an in-depth overview of the hydrogen economy, emphasizing its importance in combating global warming. Since the lecture, six schools have joined the network, with ten more expressing interest. Additionally, one school has extended an invitation for a student-focused lecture and discussion to explore introductory hydrogen lessons ahead of the formal teaching materials' release.

Through the Hydrogen Academy Network of Schools, Bulgarian educators can play a crucial role in equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to embrace hydrogen technologies, empowering them to contribute to a sustainable future and enhancing the country’s role in the global green energy transition.

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