Drucker: No LGBTI Indoctrination in Schools, All Activities Must Stay Neutral

Bratislava, 9 July (TASR) – School activities beyond the scope of the official curriculum must adhere to principles of political, ideological and religious neutrality, and parents have the right to prevent their child from participation, Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) emphasised at a press conference on Wednesday. Drucker rejected allegations that progressive LGBTI indoctrination is taking place in schools, calling them an attempt to spread fear and manipulate public opinion. He also addressed concerns raised about guest lectures on hoaxes and fraud organised by a civil association linked to Progressive Slovakia MP's assistant David Puchovsky. "No indoctrination is taking place," stated Drucker firmly, adding that any suspicion can be investigated via clear legal procedures. He stressed that promoting critical thinking should not be mistaken for ideological influencing. The ministry has published detailed guidelines for schools on how to handle extracurricular educational activities, including on how to secure informed parental consent. "These are standard practices, common in many countries, often involving valuable content such as career workshops or expert-led discussions," said Drucker. He clarified that the ministry does not — and cannot — approve every individual workshop, as that responsibility lies with schools and their founders. "Our role is to create the rules and ensure that they are followed, especially when we receive complaints," he said. So far, the ministry has received only a few such complaints, and none have confirmed any legal violations. mf/df