SOME investors in Slovakia have begun to perceive a lack of qualified employees, Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš said on November 19 during a discussion programme on Slovak Radio's Saturday Dialogues programme, the TASR news agency reported.
"It looks as though practice has overtaken the education system. And it doesn't concern only universities but also the special secondary schools. It's necessary to do everything possible to stop education lagging behind practice," Mikloš said.
President of the Automotive Industry Association Jozef Uhrík estimated that technology management processes and information systems practice are 10 years ahead of education.
Project Minerva, which is focussed on building a knowledge-based economy, and approved by the Slovak cabinet, should improve the situation. Mikloš added that the total amount of funding for developing science will be twice as much in 2006 as in 2002. "While in 2002 it was Sk3.8 billion (€100 million), this sphere will receive Sk7.7 billion (€200 million) next year," Mikloš said.
