The Minister of Education Tomáš Drucker (Voice-SD) rejects the claims on the liquidation of private education and discrimination in connection with the amendment to the Act on Financing of Schools and School Facilities and other school laws. He said this at a short briefing after the opening of the new school year at the Primary School in the Slovak Grob in the district of Pezinok also in response to the protests announced by the Association of Private Schools and School Facilities.
- The Minister of Education rejects allegations of discrimination against private schools.
- The proposed amendment regulates funding and normative contributions.
- The Association of Private Schools described the proposal as unfair.
- Discussions regarding the proposal took place mainly with church schools.
- Critics of the proposal launched symbolic protest actions in churches.
“I absolutely reject discrimination, I also reject false information and half -truths. False, especially in that it is a kind of liquidation of private education,” Drucker said, saying that the Ministry of Education was preparing legislation for a long time, but did not register much interest in discussing it at the beginning. “During the summer, there were very intensive debates with representatives of church schools, whether with evangelical or Catholic. There I think we have a high -quality proposal because these partners regularly participated,” noted.
He expressed the belief that the legislative proposal is also good for private education. “I regret that the main officials have contributed more on social networks than in negotiations because they did not participate in negotiations,” underlined. However, it continues to advise the readiness to discuss. “I would appeal to the founders of private schools and parents to study the law. We are ready to talk about it,” He added the ministry.
He reiterated that the state must primarily monitor the public interest. “We impose obligations on all Slovak citizens, ie children, that it is mandatory school attendance. At the same time, it is free. This primarily must be fulfilled by the state, it wants to fulfill it by public schools and adapt the whole education,” added. According to him, many public, private and church schools bring significant value to the Slovak education system. “They also have a special position, and so we have declared it in this bill, where the provision of confirmation of special importance for church and private schools was also received,” closed.
At the August meeting, the government approved the bill on the financing of schools and school facilities. It is intended to extend the range of reasons to reduce the normative contribution. This should be reduced by church or private schools that will not be registered as a public education and training provider by 20 percent.
According to the Association of Private Schools and School Facilities, the proposal to change school financing is unfair and liquidation for private schools. The forum of Christian institutions and the Board of Directors of the Association of Catholic Schools of Slovakia also joined the criticism. As a sign of disagreement with the proposed adjustment of the financing of church schools, the bells of the churches in the territory of Trnava Archdiocese will be heard on Monday at 10.00 am.
