Before the National revitalisation of the 19th century, education usually took the form of memorization of the liturgy and other religious material. Supporters of the National Revival movement were instrumental in establishing and supporting Bulgarian schools in the cities--first for boys, and later for girls as well. These activists also introduced the chitalishta. Often located next to a school, the chitalishta served as community cultural centers as well as reading rooms. The first schools, which began opening in the early 19th century, often did not go beyond a basic education; students wishing to continue their education had to go abroad.

The educational system accomplished after Bulgaria gained its freedom retained the same basic structure through 1989. The 1878 Temporary Law on National Schools accomplished free compulsory education in primary school for both men and women. The schools were designed to teach reading, and writing. In practice, not everyone received that education, but the law gave the villages an bonus to open new schools. By the turn of the century, 1/3 of all Bulgarian villages had primary schools. In the early days, the immediate demand for a large number of teachers meant that many new teachers had little more education than their students. Later reforms specified a seven-year standard education with a curriculum based on a West European model. Some peasants, particularly uneducated ones, withdrew their children from school because they believed the classes were unrelated to peasant life. This led to the offering of textbooks and prizes as an incentive for students from poorer families.

Some students married and began families while they were still in school, and two-student families were not uncommon. Such families often depended on help from parents because of their low income and because of a shortage of student family housing. By 1990 most Bulgarian students worked in their free time, unlike their predecessors in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Bulgaria’s literacy rate is 100 %. Education is free and compulsory for children from the ages of 7 through 16; 99 % of primary school-aged children are listed in school. Students attend primary school for four years, basic school for three years, and secondary school for three to five years depending on the course of study. About 30 % of students continue their education past the secondary level. There are more than 20 institutions of higher learning in Bulgaria, including the University of Sofia.