The dailies comment extensively on a School Education and Pre-School Upbringing and Training Bill presented by Education Minister Daniel Vulchev.

24 Chasa Daily

"24 Chasa" reports that teachers can send students out of the classroom if they disrupt classes, and the students cannot leave the school building. Smoking and drinking at school will be forbidden. No one can carry arms into the school building, and teachers and students cannot talk on their mobile phones during classes. High achievers will lose their scholarships if they misbehave. Home-room teachers will make annual reports to the parents, detailing every student's strengths and weaknesses. Schools will have the right to adopt their own rules and decide on matters including uniforms, festivities, etc.

"24 Chasa" quotes Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev as saying that "GERB leader Boiko Borissov has lost all sense of proportion in recent weeks and his statements and conduct are becoming both frivolous and dangerous". Stanishev's statement was provoked by alleged "disclosures" of Customs violations announced by GERB leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov and Emil Dimitrov. Stanishev accused them of trying to derail major revenue agencies. "The government's investment plan and anti-crisis package cannot materialize without sufficient revenues," Stanishev said. He said he had always been harsh to abuse and had taken measures in all services and agencies which are part of the executive. "The opposition attack on the National Revenue Agency and now on the Customs is putting the State at risk," the prime minister said.

In "24 Chasa", Lidia Shouleva MP of Bulgarian New Democracy says that a risk to the currency board is lurking in the budget, which she claims does not reflect the financial crisis. She says it is unacceptable for the government to adjust both revenues and expenditures without the National Assembly's approval as provided for by Article 18. Shouleva warns that this may jeopardise financial stability. A budget deficit this year would mean money withdrawn from the fiscal reserve, which would pose a risk to the forex reserves that back up the lev in the existing currency board arrangement.

"24 Chasa" reports that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) praised Bulgaria at a seminar on Monday that businesses do not offer bribes to have projects approved for SAPARD financing. Elizabeth Sperber, who is in charge of agriculture at OLAF, said that it was known from reliable sources that one had to pay a bribe to get a subsidy in the past. The daily recalls that OLAF is investigating 25 cases of fraud involving SAPARD money in Bulgaria.

Standart Daily

"Standart" says that misbehaving students will sweep the school-yard and clean the rooms.

In "Standart", World Bank Vice President Kristalina Georgieva says the worst-case scenario would be for businesses to go under. She suggests that Bulgaria could revitalize its economy through investment in infrastructure, easier access to loans, and support for growth in the future so that the country will be competitive when the crisis ends. It is not a poor country but its economy still is in a transition, so any chance for global action should be grasped.

Trud Daily

"Trud" emphasizes that children from 1st to 4th Form will not repeat a year, regardless of their achievements. The Bill provides for pre-school tests, which will help teachers decide what  assistance a student needs.

"Trud" writes that "the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) may split because of Ivan Kostov", quoting UDF former leader Plamen Yuroukov. He may remain the legitimate leader because Martin Dimitrov's registration has been delayed over a complaint about the legitimacy of the internal elections committee. Yuroukov accused Democrats for Strong Bulgaria leader Ivan Kostov of publishing discrediting material against him. Yuroukov claims that Kostov wanted to have a new UDF leadership elected because Yuroukov refused to form a coalition with politicians like Kostov. For his part, Martin Dimitrov told "Troud" that he had "no problem with legitimacy" and that the complaint did not cast any doubt on the leadership's legitimacy.

Independent MP Eleonora Nikolova says in "Trud" she hopes that the Conflict of Interest Act will be amended by mid-March, so that everyone can submit their statement by the end of April and the data can be uploaded on the web before the elections.

"Trud" comments on the likelihood of same-day elections for the national and the European Parliament. The government coalition has until the end of the week to decide whether the elections will be held on one or two days. The National Movement for Surge and Stability suggested same-day elections, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms are opposed to the idea.

Express Daily

"Express" writes that parents will be entitled to eight hours' leave a year to meet with teachers and school principals.

Klassa Daily

Representatives of the eight major parties agreed that the currency board arrangement is the mainstay of economic stability, "Klassa" says. This took place at a discussion on the priorities at a time of crisis, organized by the Socialist Party. The politicians concurred that the lev should remain pegged to the euro until Bulgaria joins the Eurozone.

Sega Daily

In contrast, "Sega" reports on its front page that "OLAF has implicated the Agriculture Fund in negligence about fraud involving EU funding". The Fund allegedly ignored OLAF reports about SAPARD fraud for six months and did not pressure the rogue companies to pay back the subsidies. "Sega" holds an OLAF letter of February 9 to Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plougchieva, Agriculture Minister Valeri Tsvetanov and Agriculture Fund Director Alizan Yahova.

Dnevnik Daily

"Dnevnik" says that MPs have won EU financing for road construction. Although a mere 0.05 per cent of EU funding for infrastructure was absorbed in three years, this money too became subject to conflict of interest, the daily says. Socialist MP Stoyan Prodanov and Yunal Tassim (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) reportedly won a tender under the Regional Development Programme. Madlen Stoyanova, until recently a member of the Socialist Party's Supreme Council, won financing for an environmental project.

"Dnevnik" quotes Sperber as saying that an old boys' network is hampering real reforms. She argued at Monday's seminar that this network wants to keep things the way they were done for years.

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