Over a thousand school leaders in Slovakia have raised concerns regarding recently approved education reforms, citing ambiguity, risks to children's rights, and a lack of dialogue with the Ministry of Education.
In mid-January, more than a thousand directors and representatives from kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools sent a formal statement to Education Minister Tomáš Drucker, expressing their professional objections to the recently approved school reform. They criticized the vagueness of the proposed changes, the potential threat to children's rights, and the insufficient level of discussion between school leaders and the Ministry of Education. The initiative has sparked a significant conversation among school leaders about the future of the education system in Slovakia.
Veronika Dropčová, the director of the Church-Connected School of St. Martin in Hviezdoslavov and one of the authors of the statement, mentioned that initially, they were hesitant to go public with their concerns, seeking to address the matter directly with the Ministry. They decided to disclose the letter to the public after receiving no response for two weeks, emphasizing the importance of transparency and the need for a constructive dialogue with the educational authorities.
Dropčová highlighted that this initiative stemmed from grassroots school leaders who collaboratively agreed on the need for reform in response to the government's recent decisions. Their upcoming meeting with Minister Drucker aims to discuss their concerns directly and seek amendments to the reform that consider the input and needs of schools, students, and parents in Slovakia.
