Dear I.V.
My understanding is that parents paying thousands of USD to send their kids to the ACS is equal to "pouring money into education". And since the graduates of that school are quite successful, one would conclude that "pouring money into education" (i.e. expensive private school fees) does work.
As for creating demand for highly educated people - check out Ireland. Young people we leaving it in droves in the 80s. Then in the 90s a certain level of spending on education and research (funded by higher income taxes and EU help) provided an educated workforce which (combined with a business friendly environment) attracted the Googles of this world to set-up shop in Dublin. What happened then: the now experienced Irish workers who immigrated earlier, started to come back and find good jobs or set-up businesses. 
I really dont understand all this tragic talk about young people leaving Bulgaria - that was the whole point about getting into the EU - people are free to come and go, explore the world, get the best education and job experience. Eventually some will come back - thats the global world we live in...