MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, 15 September 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, 14 September): BRATISLAVA – An explosion followed by a fire occurred on Sunday morning in a ground-floor garden supply store located in a block of flats on Slnecna Street in Malinovo (Bratislava region), the Fire and Rescue Corps (HaZZ) reported on social media. „Upon arrival, firefighters found that plastic material on a workbench had caught fire. The fire was quickly localised and extinguished using a fire extinguisher,” the firefighters stated. As a preventive measure, residents of the apartment building were evacuated in cooperation with the police. Gas and electricity supplies were temporarily cut off; however, subsequent measurements detected no leaks. Utilities were restored following inspections by certified technicians, HaZZ confirmed. An investigator specialising in fire causes was called to the scene. The cause of the explosion and subsequent fire remains under investigation. Once operations concluded, the site was handed over to the building’s administrator. BRATISLAVA – One year after beginning the optimisation of the secondary school network, the Ministry of Education is preparing to introduce changes to the network of primary schools as well, Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) stated in an interview with TASR. Drucker explained that schools attended by at least 50 to 100 pupils could stay in operation, but be merged with other schools into a larger cluster with a single director. These clusters would enable, for example, the sharing of teachers, facilities, and other staff. According to the minister, optimising the network would also help address the shortage of teachers in certain subjects and facilitate experience-sharing among educators. The changes will be implemented in cooperation with local governments, which are running the primary schools. „We have a very fragmented network of a large number of schools. Due to demographic trends, the number of children being born is changing. Many schools suffer from having fewer children in municipalities, which in turn raises the question of whether they have enough funding to pay sufficient teaching staff and ensure quality education," the minister told TASR. He added that one of the reasons for the planned optimisation is the poorer performance of pupils from small schools in the nationwide 'Testing 9' assessments. These pupils scored 30 to 33 percent lower in Slovak language and mathematics compared to their peers in larger schools. This reduces their chances of success in further education, despite an additional €100 million being spent annually on small schools — funding that has not yielded the desired outcomes. The proposed measures are based on the final report of the Spending Review of Primary and Secondary Schools, prepared by the Value for Money Division of the Finance Ministry in cooperation with the Institute for Educational Policy at the Education Ministry. BRATISLAVA – President Peter Pellegrini on Sunday extended birthday congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of his 70th birthday, TASR learnt from the President's Office press department on Sunday. In the name of Slovak citizens and on his own behalf, Pellegrini wished the pontiff good health, optimism, grace, and hope. „In your highly responsible and unique mission as a moral authority, envoy of peace, hope and understanding among nations around the world, I wish you much strength for the years ahead," stated the congratulatory letter. Pellegrini wrote to the new head of the Catholic Church that the year 2025 will forever be a significant milestone for him. „It is not only the year in which the Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee Year associated with a time of grace, spiritual renewal and deepening of faith, but also the beginning of your pontificate," he noted. In the letter, he also referred to the current global situation, which he described as full of challenges and changes, increasingly compelling the people to recall the values of peace, justice, mutual respect, understanding and simple humanity. The President assured Pope Leo XIV that the people of Slovakia fully support initiatives aimed at "a more humane world". „I personally highly appreciate and sincerely thank you for emphasising the importance of dialogue, solidarity, cooperation, and support for the marginalised," Pellegrini wrote in conclusion. Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, is the first pope of North American origin in the history of the Church. He was elected on 8 May following the death of his predecessor, Francis. mf