Danko: Plavcan Delivering on Vision for Education Reform

Bratislava, March 15 (TASR) – Education, Science, Research and Sport Minister Peter Plavcan (an SNS nominee) is fulfilling a vision for reforming the education sector and is pushing for concrete measures within the coalition gradually, said Parliamentary Chairman and Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko on Wednesday.

Danko was speaking during a visit to Plavcan’s ministry to review the work carried out there since Plavcan took up office one year ago.

“I’d like to thank the minister publicly for delivering on the vision of the coalition agreement, for delivering on the vision of education system reform and for promoting measures by gradual steps,” said Danko.

Among such successes, he went on to flag up an increase in teachers’ salaries and the planned introduction of school buses. The latter is a joint effort rolled out by Plavcan’s ministry and the Transport and Construction Ministry.

“Our policies are informed by giving more authority to the state in education processes,” said Danko, who also praised a reform in sport with a view to more transparent spending of public funds.

Danko and Plavcan agreed on allocating an extra €15 million towards sport. The funding should ultimately be spent on small-scale projects at sports facilities, such as renovations of changing rooms.

Plavcan echoed Danko’s statement, singling out the rise in teachers’ salaries and the education sector’s reform as major accomplishments during his term in office. He added that the ministry is working on an array of projects in education, culture and sport, including stepping up support for school competitions in sport as of the upcoming school year.