Plavcan Expects Challenging School Year for All Employees in Education
Bratislava, September 5 (TASR) – The new 2016-17 school year will be a challenge for all those working in the education system, as individual reforms of the system are expected to be implemented, said Education, Science, Research and Sport Minister Peter Plavcan (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) at the official opening of the new school year at M.R. Stefanik Primary School in Ivanka pri Dunaji (Bratislava region) on Monday.
“I expect this year to be challenging for everyone, that is, for teachers, professional employees and all those that will strive to implement individual elements of the education reform that we’ve launched,” said Plavcan.
“The most significant task to be fulfilled this term is hikes in teachers’ salaries. I’m glad that their salaries were increased as of September 1,” emphasised Plavcan, adding that the ministry is doing everything within its power to increase salaries in 2017 as well.
Plavcan opened an annex building for the primary school during his visit. M.R. Stefanik Primary School headteacher Vlasta Koudelova stressed that extending school capacities was essential due to annual increases in the number of children. “The school accommodates children from the village of Zalesie [Bratislava region]. There are kids from outside Ivanka applying to get into our school. The number of children is increasing partly due to the proliferation of construction [of new houses] in Ivanka. This year we’ll have six first-grade classes with 130 first-graders altogether,” explained Koudelova, adding that in all there will be 36 classes, 825 pupils and 78 staff.
