Ministry Turns to PG's Office over Violations of Law by Six Schools

Bratislava, 16 September (TASR) – The Education, Research, Development and Youth Ministry has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor-General's Office (PG) over systematic and repeated violations of laws to the detriment of the quality of education of students by six schools set up by two different founders. The State School Inspectorate has proposed removing them from the network of schools and school facilities in Slovakia. They are the Biela voda Private Combined School in Kezmarok (Presov region) and five private primary schools founded by the Creative Centre. This was announced at a press conference on Tuesday by Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD), who also stated that the reasons for the move are serious. "In Slovakia, there is and will be no place for schools and their founders who cheat, who in a certain way also profit from public finances, but above all, who are unable or unwilling to provide education for our students, or who fraudulently fail to do so," said the minister. He considers the most serious problem at the Biela voda Private Joint School in Kezmarok to be an absolutely inadequate level of teaching expertise. According to him, in subjects such as computer science, mathematics and civics the level of expertise was at zero percent, while the law requires a minimum of 70 percent. The minister explained that 55 violations of the law were found at the Biela voda private school. According to him, teaching did not observe state education programmes, and students from different fields were grouped together. He said that the average attendance rate was 15.6 percent, even though the school reported almost 80 percent. The inspection also found that attendance data had been added later. According to the minister, the school lacked specialised classrooms, and the workshops were unsuitable and dangerous. In addition, the school entered false data into the ministry's information system and accepted students who didn't meet the admission requirements. In private schools established by the Creative Centre, the inspection found that more than three-quarters of the students were being educated remotely, which is completely contrary to the law. According to the minister, only about one-third of students were present in classrooms during lessons, and the headteachers of two of the schools didn't even meet the conditions and requirements for carrying out a managerial function. He added that the organisation of teaching was in complete violation of the law and that education was provided in premises that were not part of the approved school facilities within the school network. tim/df/am