By Mykhailo Gryshchenko | Monitoring and Data
In the last months, we strengthened our “Better at Math with Khan Academy” work on every front: classroom routines, teacher support, new Bulgarian exam-prep content, and access to learning devices.
None of this happens without you. With the support of the UniCredit Foundation, the America for Bulgaria Foundation, corporate partners such as Cargill, Experian, Visteon, Pwrteams, and the generosity of individual donors, more Bulgarian students are learning mathematics more effectively and with growing confidence.
Teacher Spotlight: Building Confidence and Persistence in the Youngest Learners
Primary school teacher Donka from Aytos has been working with Khan Academy for a full year. Her experience confirms that the platform is fully suitable and highly effective for primary-grade students.
One of the strongest advantages, she shares, is the feature that children can learn at their own pace. Faster learners can move ahead to new exercises, while students who need more time can repeat tasks as many times as necessary. This flexibility creates space for confidence, persistence, and genuine understanding, key benefits compared to traditional instruction.
School Visits: Seeing the Change Up Close
Over the past month our team visited numerous schools participating in our “Better at Math with Khan Academy” program, including schools in their second or even third year of implementation, as well as new schools that joined the program in September. These visits allowed us to gather feedback, observe lessons, and support teachers as they build consistent, sustainable routines with Khan Academy.
Across schools, the pattern is consistent: When teachers receive the right tools and mentoring, students become more persistent, more confident, and more willing to learn. This is exactly why donor and partner support matters. It reaches students who were saying “I can’t”, and who are trying their best currently.
Open Lesson in Mezdra: Formula of Mastery with Khan Academy
On November 28, we attended an open grade 7 math lesson at Ivan Vazov Secondary School in Mezdra, titled “Shortened Multiplication in Action: From Formula to Mastery with Khan Academy”. This lesson was led by senior teacher Diana.
Students worked in teams and remained highly engaged throughout the activities. As the teacher shared, Khan Academy supports both sides of the classroom: it gives teachers immediate insights into students progress, while students can independently revisit concepts they have not yet mastered.
The school self-finances its participation in the Better at Math with Khan Academy program and receives ongoing mentorship from Education Without Backpacks.
Scaling Impact in Vratsa: Partnership with the Regional Department of Education
Education Without Backpacks signed a cooperation memorandum with the Regional Department of Education in Vratsa, building on existing partnerships with the Regional Department of Education in Burgas and Municipality of Blagoevgrad. This collaboration straightens the regional network for sharing innovative teaching practices and improving learning outcomes.
Four schools in Vratsa region have already joined our Better at Math with Khan Academy program. In addition teachers from approximately 40 schools across 19 towns and villages in the region completed a two-day introductory online training on effective Khan Academy use.
Grade 7 National External Assessment: New Content in Bulgarian
New content supporting preparation for the Grade 7 National External Assessment in Bulgaria is now available in Khan Academy in Bulgarian. Fifty new math topics, including tasks aligned with Module II, were created by Bulgarian teachers to match the national curriculum and the exam format. An additional ten topics will be released by the end of January.
The course is free and can be used both in the classroom and for self-study. It is part of the Better at Math with Khan Academy program, made possible with support from the UniCredit Foundation and Cargill Bulgaria.
Khanmigo in Bulgarian: A Free AI Assistant for Teachers
On December 4, Khanmigo, Khan Academy’s AI-powered teacher assistant, became available in Bulgaria free of charge. Designed to support teachers with lesson planning, activity creation, concepts explanations and fostering students’ independence, Kanmigo is currently in trial mode.
Our team is testing real classroom scenarios, reviewing the quality of Bulgarian-language explanations, and identifying areas of improvements.
Corporate Device Giving: More Students Get Access to Khan Academy
Global technology company Experian recently donated 50 refurbished laptops to Dimcho Debelyanov Secondary School, Burgas, and Neofit Bozvely Secondary School, Varna, where they will be used by primary-grade students. This donation is part of a broader corporate devices giving campaign, coordinated by Education Without Backpacks.
Earlier in 2025 and late 2024, other companies contributed dozens of devices, including Astea Solution, Ipsos, Schwarz IT Bulgaria, Telus, Ubisoft, UniCredit Bulbank.
Khan Academy Localisation (September – November 2025)
Translation: 162 000 words in Math, Physics and resources for teachers
Proofreading: 159 000 words in Math, Physics and resources for teachers
Across schools throughout Bulgaria we continued to see the same transformation: when teachers receive the right tools and mentoring, students become more persistent and more willing to learn.
Support from the UniCredit Foundation, the America for Bulgaria Foundation, corporate partners such as Cargill, and individual donors like you keep Khan Academy in Bulgarian growing and reaching more classrooms.
Thank you for standing behind the teachers and students who are turning effort into real progress!
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By Mykhailo Gryshchenko | Business Development
By Teodora Alexandrova | PR & Communications
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