Drucker: E-Applications System Delivers Expected Results

Bratislava, 1 June (TASR) - The electronic applications system for schools has delivered the expected results, Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) declared on Monday. Drucker confirmed that the eApplications system was overloaded and experienced technical problems on Monday, adding that the issues will be audited. At the same time, he noted that admission decisions and noticeboard postings are being carried out according to the schedule from 1 to 5 June, and that secondary schools had already published results for more than 60 percent of study programmes on the first day. "More than 130,000 parents used the eApplications system, making it the biggest step towards transparency in the admissions process in recent years. For the first time, the evaluation algorithm removed the need to confirm enrolment at a school, significantly reduced the blocking of places and ensured their immediate release to other applicants," the Education Ministry's press department said in response to opposition's criticism of the system on Monday. According to the ministry, the first results clearly confirm that the new system is working. "As many as 80 percent of admitted pupils were accepted to their first-choice school. More than 10,600 applicants obtained places they would not have secured without centralised processing, while more than 35,000 pupils were optimised according to their preferences," the ministry said. The ministry again called on opposition politicians to stop causing uncertainty and alarming parents. "Instead of spreading false claims, it would be more appropriate to respect the basic facts about how the algorithm actually works and the benefits it has brought to the fairness of admissions outcomes," the ministry added. Earlier on Monday, the opposition parties Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Progressive Slovakia (PS) criticised the eApplications system, which was intended to simplify the admissions process for parents and pupils, claiming it has caused chaos, uncertainty and needless bureaucracy. mf