First Bulgarian Secular School – Gabrovo

The First Bulgarian Secular School was established in Gabrovo on January 14 1835. Thus, the foundations of modern, western education were laid in Bulgaria. The school was created following the Bell-Lancaster model using donations made by the patriotic Gabrovo residents Vasil Aprilov, Nikola Paluzov, Vasil Rasheev, etc. The first textbooks, school aids and teaching materials were created for the needs of the school. Later on, they became a standard for all Bulgarian schools. In 1872, the Gabrovo Secular School developed into the First Secondary School on the territory of the enslaved Bulgarian lands. In 1889, it was named after its benefactor Vasil Aprilov, continuing its existence under the name Aprilovska Secondary School.