On Wednesday, more than 100 suitcases were set up along Poštová Street in Bratislava in an installation titled 'Let's Call Our Children Home', attempting to draw attention to the ongoing brain drain from Slovakia. It was created by politicians Juraj Hipš, Alojz Hlina and Ábel Ravasz, according to whom the Government should not forget about reforms that would encourage people to return home to Slovakia. According to them, the reason why young people abandon Slovakia is the low quality of education, a lack of trust in state institutions and clientelism. The organisers pointed to a survey, according to which 57% of university graduates and university students from eastern Slovakia are contemplating leaving the country either temporarily or permanently.
Hipš added that more than 20,000 young Slovaks study abroad, and half of them will not return. "Hence, we are losing one of the most precious things we have as a country - capable people, who might have had the chance to turn Slovakia into a modern and innovative country, not just an assembly line and cheap labour force," he stated.
