Good evening. Here is theTuesday, December 5 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Slovakia's Pisa results are "national tragedy", says education minister
Education Minister Tomáš Drucker presents Slovakia's Pisa results in Bratislava on December 5, 2023. (source: TASR)
The performance of 15-year-old Slovak students in the international Pisa assessment did not please Education Minister Tomáš Drucker. The OECD said that the 2022 results are the lowest ever measured in mathematics, and among the lowest in reading and science.
"No one else, no other country, or a world conspiracy is to blame for the problem. It's our problem," Drucker said during his press conference on Tuesday, "It is our national tragedy. The reason is the long-term neglect of finances and education priorities."
The minister talks about a significant deterioration compared to the previous assessment. Yet, he thinks it's unnecessary to change the content of education. Instead, the way of teaching should change. Major reforms are off the table at present, he added. The curriculum reform was approved earlier this year.
In mathematical literacy, students recorded an even greater decline than in reading. Overall, Slovakia found itself below the average of OECD countries in these tests. However, the results of students have worsened across Europe.
(source: OECD)
The ministry went on to call it alarming that Slovakia was mentioned as the country with the greatest influence of pupils' socioeconomic background on their results. "Here, a student coming from a socially disadvantaged environment has much less and almost no chance to advance in their career," the ministry said. According to the ministry, the worsened overall result results from the increase in the number of students in the risk group.
In Slovakia, more than 5,800 15-year-old students took part in the global tests. The tests were completed in 288 schools. The tests were taken in 81 countries in 2022.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
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Culture: Listen to a brand new Spectator College episode. Puneet Dhiman, a young Indian citizen, tells us about his unique food truck in Bratislava.
Travel: The ski season has kicked off in some Slovak regions.
Bratislava: The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, also had its Hachikō, a dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty.
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FEATURE STORY FOR TUESDAY
From driving bus to becoming teacher at Slovak school
Evgeny Furman (centre) with Slovak colleagues from a Nitra school. (source: Courtesy of E. F.)
Evgeny Furman came to Slovakia several hours before Russia invaded Ukraine. The Ukrainian man with three university degrees used to drive a bus in Slovakia. But he does what he loves today. Furman hopes to teach the world about a Ukrainian workout, too.
EVENT FOR NEXT WEEK
Love Actually in cinemas
The British romantic comedy "Love Actually" returns to Slovak cinemas after 20 years in a restored 4k version. The premiere of this cult Christmas film takes place on December 14.
In other news
Bratislava Region recommends that schools consider the possibility of distance learning on Wednesday, December 6, due to a bomb threat that three schools falling under Bratislava Region received. Two of them are in Bratislava and one in Senec (Gymnázium Alberta Einsteina in Petržalka, Gymnázium Ivana Horvátha in Ružinov and Gymnázium Antona Bernoláka in Senec). December 6 is St Nicholas Day in Slovakia. Some schools in Prešov and Žilina Regions also received similar threats. The police are investigating the threats. (TASR/Markíza)
Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini will announce the date of the presidential elections in January. The latest date for the first round of presidential elections is April 13, 2024. (TASR)
Malá Fatra National Park will continue to exist, said Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba. Also, he denied that he would have approved the hunting of wolves. (TASR)
Constitution Day, September 1, will remain a public holiday. However, it should be a workday at the same time, the government proposes.
The meeting of EU transport ministers did not find any answer to Slovak or Polish truckers blocking Ukrainian lorries at Polish and Slovak crossing points. Transport Minister Jozef Ráž added that Western Europe doesn't see the blockade as a problem. He announced that Slovakia will increase border checks and focus on truckers. Slovak hauliers are currently blocking the Vyšné Nemecké crossing partially. (TASR)
On Tuesday, MPs called on ex-economy minister and MP Richard Sulík to compensate for the damage (€634.500) that the Supreme Audit Office found in connection with Slovakia's participation in the world exhibition Expo Dubai 2020. During the extraordinary session, in response to criticism, Sulík said that instead of €8.7 million, the exhibition cost €7.7 million. He thus saved €1 million, he claimed. At the same time, he took political responsibility for mistakes in the financial records. (TASR)
Yesterday, the government approved a package of measures to consolidate public finances. In 2024, the cabinet should obtain €1.96 billion thanks to extraordinary taxation of banks, special oil tax, higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco. The package also includes a reduced contribution to the second pension pillar and an increased health levy (by 1 percentage point). The government will discuss the state budget proposal for 2024 next week. (TASR)
Trenčín's Christmas tree on December 5, 2023. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: The Wednesday skies will be cloudy. Prepare for snow in many places or for rain and sleet if you live in southern Slovakia. The yellow snow warning will apply from midnight in Bratislava and the southern parts of Nitra and Trnava Regions. (SHMÚ)
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