Only 22.1% of Bulgarian teachers use artificial intelligence in teaching or learning-related activities, placing the country below the European Union average. This is one of the key findings of the European Commission’s report The Teaching Profession in the EU: A Comparative Analysis Building Upon the TALIS 2024 Results, based on data from the OECD’s TALIS 2024 (Teaching and Learning International Survey).
Across the European Union, 31.6% of teachers report using artificial intelligence in their work. Bulgaria lags significantly behind leaders such as Malta (46%), Romania (45.8%), Czechia (45.8%), and Poland (45.1%), where AI adoption in education is considerably higher.
The report shows that teachers most commonly use AI for preparing teaching materials, designing lessons, summarizing information, and planning classroom activities. Its use for student assessment and learning analytics remains much less widespread.
Lack of Skills Remains the Main Barrier
According to the study, the biggest obstacle to AI adoption is not access to technology but a lack of knowledge and training. Nearly three-quarters of teachers across Europe identify insufficient skills and understanding as the main reason for not using artificial intelligence in their professional practice.
At the same time, only around 30% of teachers in the EU have received training related to the use of AI in education. A significant share of educators report a need for additional professional development in digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
A New Generation of Teachers Is Better Prepared
One of the most notable findings of the report concerns the generational shift within the profession. Recently qualified teachers feel significantly more confident using digital technologies than their more experienced colleagues.
According to the report’s authors, this suggests that digital competencies are gradually becoming an integral part of teacher education and training. However, the successful integration of artificial intelligence into education will still require targeted investments in professional development and ongoing support for teachers.
What Does This Mean for Bulgaria?
The report highlights both challenges and opportunities for the Bulgarian education system. On the one hand, Bulgaria remains among the countries with relatively low levels of AI adoption in schools. On the other hand, younger teachers demonstrate a greater readiness to embrace technology, creating favourable conditions for accelerating digital transformation.
The future of education will increasingly depend on schools’ ability to integrate new technologies in meaningful, safe, and effective ways. For Bulgaria, this means investing in teacher training, strengthening digital competencies, and developing practical approaches that turn artificial intelligence into a tool for better teaching and learning rather than simply another technological innovation.
TALIS is the world’s largest international survey focusing on teachers and school leaders. The 2024 edition covers dozens of countries and examines key aspects of the teaching profession, including working conditions, professional development, technology use, artificial intelligence adoption, job satisfaction, and the future of education. Read the report here.
