Ministry Says 151 Schools Shut on Tuesday, ISU Has Different Figures

Bratislava, January 26 (TASR) – Fewer schools remained shut on Tuesday, as their number dropped from 179 on Monday to 151 the following day, according to a statement issued by the Education, Science, Research and Sport Ministry released on Tuesday.

The number, provided to the ministry by district authorities for education, amounts to 2.25 percent of all (6,724) schools countrywide.

“Most regions have seen a drop in the figure on schools that are shut today (Tuesday). For example, the number has dropped by six in Banska Bystrica region,” said ministry spokesperson Beata Dupalova Ksenzsighova. In Trnava region, a drop from 27 to 14 was recorded. By contrast, Bratislava region posted a rise from 43 to 52 schools, as did Trencin region – from 7 to 9 schools.

The Slovak Teachers’ Initiative (ISU) provides different figures, however, as it claims that 784 schools have subscribed to the strike as of midday Tuesday and approximately half of those schools remained closed on Tuesday.

ISU blames the discrepancy in the figures on the fact that not all schools have provided the ministry with information that there will be no classes on Tuesday.