Education: Teachers Come Dressed in Black to Schools in Silent Protest

Bratislava, November 27 (TASR) - Some teachers and school employees came to work dressed in black on Wednesday, thus taking part in a protest gesture organised by education labour unions to express sadness over the under-financed state of the education sector. The Education Ministry doesn't perceive the silent protest as a form of pressure and noted that cooperation with the unionists is excellent. The labour unions are unhappy with the under-financed state of the education sector. "That's why on Wednesday, November 27, we declare a protest titled 'Education in Mourning - Protest in Black', as a symbolic expression of sadness over the financing of Slovak education. We call on all employees to come to work dressed in black this day and share photographs of the protest on their social media," stated head of school unionists Pavel Ondek. Support for the protest was voiced also by the Confederation of Labour Unions (KOZ). "The Slovak education is bedevilled by a systemic stagnation and unequal financing, which discriminates against certain employee groups when it comes to their remuneration. In addition, the lacking support for teachers leads to demotivation and worsening quality of education. Also lacking is the modernisation of infrastructure and the sector isn't linked with practical needs of the labour market, which puts the future of the entire society in danger," added KOZ spokesperson Martina Nemethova. The Education Ministry doesn't perceive the silent protest as a form of pressure, seeing as the unionists announced it already back during their talks with the President. "On the contrary, we enjoy a constructive discussion with them and seek solutions acceptable to all parties involved. Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) will meet with representatives of the labour unions again this Friday. We'll keep the public posted on the outcome," said the Education Ministry's press department. mf/mcs