The Path to Mediterranean Supremacy/Bulgarian Empire

Ferdinand finished acting like an actor at the University of Bulgaria. He personally awarded diplomas to more than four hundred students on the spot and ate with the entire university in the cafeteria before returning to the palace.

Ferdinand, who had been busy all day, hadn't had time to rest when Minister of Education, Chekhov, came running with sweat on his face.

Ferdinand asked, puzzled, "Chekhov, what is so urgent?"

"Your Highness, I am sorry to have disturbed your rest!!! We have a problem regarding the placements of university graduates!!!" said Chekhov, wiping his sweat.

Hearing this, Ferdinand was more puzzled. One should know that this class of university graduates with quality is great. Moreover, all science and technology majors are rare talents, and it is not simple to place them in jobs! Thus he asked, "What's the problem?"

Chekhov looked at Ferdinand and said with some trouble: "Your Highness, we did not estimate enough. We surveyed the allocation of university students according to their wishes. However, the university has just sent us new applicants. Many of them have given up their original positions in administration and hope to do technical work in the front line!"

After listening to Chekhov's explanation, Ferdinand knew why and how. Mostly, his speech today inspired this group of young scholars. When their minds got passionate, they decided to throw themselves into the tide of building the country. At the same time, he was more puzzled, "This is a good thing! Haven't we been advocating it?"

"This ~  because we did not expect such a change. We could not get so many suitable positions for a while!" Chekhov gulped and said.

"Oh! I got it. That's a real pain in the ass. Let me think about it first!" Ferdinand said with a headache.

If it is usual, this is only small trouble. Some people are placed first, and some wait for a few months, and then placed, there is no harm. The problem now is that Ferdinand just went to act tough today, in the face of the entire faculty and students with a clear promise of placement, so you can't hit your own face!

That's why Chekhov rushed over. In fact, this year's college students are in demand, and many sectors are playing with the idea that there are simply not enough scores. The list of job placements has long been finalized and has been sent to the schools. However, because of the cause by Ferdinand, many of the previous plans have been nullified.

Ferdinand kept wandering for a moment, and after a few moments of time, he suddenly had a bright idea and said uncertainly: "Didn't the reserve program start! Why don't we organize them and train them for three months first?"

Chekhov said cautiously, "Yes! There is a three-month buffer, enough time for us to take care of the latter! Moreover, now that the national reserve has been launched, they will have to join the training sooner or later, and no one can say anything!"

This time it was Ferdinand's turn to be surprised. He also did not expect that Chekhov would express support for this unreliable proposal. He also found a legitimate excuse. Does the Bulgarian reserve program include this group of college students? Obviously, as long as Ferdinand is not an idiot, sending them to the battlefield as cannon fodder is impossible. They are his entire generation!

After giving it some thought, Ferdinand decided to do just that! All students who graduate in the future come to three months of basic training. They will be able to exercise their bodies and train their willpower, killing two birds with one stone!

"Why not simply promote it? From elementary school to university, all students should have no less than one month of military training every year and three more months after they graduate! Yes, we must also increase the number of hours of patriotic education. I have already asked the experts from Austria-Hungary to prepare the teaching materials, so take a look at them first!" Ferdinand waved his hand to make a decision.

The startled Chekhov was stunned, froze for a while before reacting, and nodded in confusion.

The students in Bulgaria then suffered bad luck. The original happy holidays have now turned into painful training. Ferdinand also said beautifully that the students should improve the overall quality, but it is utterly militaristic education.

In the 19th century, however, militarism was not yet notorious, especially in the Balkans, where countries had more or less militaristic stigmas.

Patriotic education, it goes without saying. Loyalty and patriotism at the time were almost one. Ferdinand mixes his private matter, but he can not fault it in plain sight!

This generation of students does not have the spoiled life of the future times. Several families are not yet educated to scream for them. With less vacation, more time for study, and no extra costs, what a good thing, parents don't care about their feelings!

Ferdinand knew that because it had not yet fully entered the age of electricity. The task of students in Bulgaria is not very heavy now. At least the morning and evening self-study in the future is not yet possible. The contents to be learned are not as much as in later times. The piano, painting, dance, etc., are still the domain of the aristocracy.

If not for the cost, Ferdinand really does not mind taking his own work schedule to Bulgaria. After some thought, Ferdinand still gave up. The electricity of this era is not cheap! The annual electricity bill of the University of Bulgaria alone makes the Ministry of Education scream. Moreover, it is only for classrooms, laboratories, and offices. Sorry, Bulgaria is not such a rich pay for the rest of the dormitory and cafeteria.

Even at that time, Bulgarian students were the most miserable in the world. From the beginning of the Second Five-Year Plan, it changed weekends to only one break. Summer and winter vacations were non-existent, and the longest Christmas holiday was only three days.

The concept in education is 'if the quality is not enough, use time!' The extra effort always pays off anyway, and it has proven to be effective. In the last two years, the graduation rate of primary and secondary school students has increased dramatically.

At the end of the 19th century, the standard of living of the European population was still mostly black bread. It was not always possible to eat meat a few times a year, and it was good to have a full meal. Bulgaria has developed well in recent years. The raising of the standard of living of the people is limited to being able to fill their stomachs, have more vegetables and fruits on the table, and be able to eat meat once per week.

Ferdinand knew that if military training were carried out, many children from poor backgrounds would have problems in terms of nutrition. He also knew that the Ministry of Education had proposed a food subsidy a long time ago, but only some students with good grades could receive it due to financial constraints. He asked, "Chekhov, how much would it cost if we subsidized students' meals all over the country during military training?"

Chekhov, who was still in deep thought, quickly reacted and said, "Your Highness, there are more than 364,000 students in the country. If we calculate one month of military training per year for students and three months for graduates and give the basic allowance, the annual expenditure will be around 500,000 Leva."

After hearing the number of people, Ferdinand was shocked. He thought it would be a huge number, but the price quoted by Chekhov was much smaller. There is no need to think. Ferdinand also knows why. Bulgaria itself is a major food producer. The government unified the purchase price per unit to be much lower.