"Any change in the rules for admission to municipal nurseries and kindergartens must above all guarantee equality, transparency, and protection of the best interests of the child. It is unacceptable for children who are already part of the early care system and have gone through the adaptation process to be placed at a disadvantage compared to their peers. Decisions should be balanced, predictable, and tailored to the real needs of families." This was written by Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva to the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, and the Chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council, Tsvetomir Petrov.

23 February 2026

"Any change in the rules for admission to municipal nurseries and kindergartens must above all guarantee equality, transparency, and protection of the best interests of the child. It is unacceptable for children who are already part of the early care system and have gone through the adaptation process to be placed at a disadvantage compared to their peers. Decisions should be balanced, predictable, and tailored to the real needs of families." This was written by Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva to the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, and the Chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council, Tsvetomir Petrov.

The reason for this is dozens of complaints from parents about the proposed amendments to the Ordinance on the Admission of Children to Municipal Nurseries and Kindergartens.

The Ombudsman expresses concern about the repeal of the additional point under General Criterion 5 for children who have attended a municipal stand-alone nursery or a private nursery registered with the Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate.

Delcheva points out that the removal of this point could put these children at a disadvantage compared to their peers who attend nursery groups at kindergartens, which automatically continue into the first group.

She recalls that the Ombudsman Institution has repeatedly made recommendations to the Sofia Municipality and district mayors to overcome the systemic shortage of places in childcare facilities through the construction of new nurseries and kindergartens, as well as by zoning the existing ones so that children have access to the facility closest to their place of residence.

"I should note that I am familiar with the problems that parents have in settlements such as Vladaya, Chelopechene, Bistritsa, Kazichene, Krivina, Lozen, and German, whose children are not accepted into municipal nurseries and kindergartens, even though they live in the locality and often even close to the kindergarten itself, due to a shortage of places or a lack of nursery groups. The complaints also mention children accepted from other neighbourhoods where there are kindergartens, but their parents do not prefer them," the Ombudsman points out.

Velislava Delcheva adds that this forces parents to take their children kilometers away from their place of residence or to look for private kindergartens and nurseries, which places an additional financial burden on their families.

She draws attention to the need to clarify the texts relating to the removal of children from preparatory groups after 15 days of absence, specifying whether medical documents or absences for other valid reasons are included.

The Ombudsman supports equating the weight of the permanent and current address of parents and children, as well as the introduction of a new General Criterion 2a, providing an additional point for children applying to childcare facilities in the municipality where they live at their permanent or current address, including children from municipalities in the same district where there is no functioning kindergarten. According to her, this is an important step towards fair zoning and equal access to childcare facilities for all children, including those who live in rented accommodation or outside the preferred neighbourhoods.

In conclusion, the Ombudsman expresses confidence that the amendments to the Ordinance will ensure equality, transparency, and equal access to services and education for all children in the territory of the Sofia Municipality.