On Wednesday, Slovak president Zuzana Caputova appointed Jan Horecky as the new Education Minister. Horecky was a teacher of mathematics and geography. He held the post of headteacher at Bratislava-based School of St. Francis of Assisi between May 2008 and July 2020. He used his managerial skills as the president of the Catholic Schools Association between 2011 and 2019, as well as manager of the private schools network Felix where he served from January 2021 up to date. The post of education minister became vacant after ministers representing Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) resigned. Until now, Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO) was temporarily tasked with managing the ministry.
The Education Ministry will require solutions to problems that can't be delayed; new Education Minister Jan Horecky is primarily expected to provide answers to the existential questions of schools linked to the energy crisis, President Zuzana Caputova stated in her speech at his appointment.
The head of state pointed out that regional schools announced serious problems with paying rising energy prices, universities want to stop classes on the Students' Day and reforms from the recovery plan are uncertain. "The whole society agrees that we can't afford closed schools and further absence of teaching," stressed the president.
Caputova also mentioned the achievement of reform milestones from the recovery plan. "Changes in preschool education must be completed by the end of 2022. It's also necessary to adopt legislative amendments to introduce and fund support measures in upbringing and education that concern children with disabilities," she said.
According to her, Slovakia also needs the continuation of the reforms already underway, especially the completion of the reform of universities, the long-awaited curriculum reform and the desegregation of Roma children in education.
"A lot is expected of you in a short time. During our conversation, you told me that you feel the same way. And you added one more nice thing – that you're aware of your limits and the need to surround yourself with experts who will help you manage such a wide and comprehensive ministry," the head of state pointed out in her speech.
Leaders of the three-party coalition were looking for a "conservatively oriented expert" as the education minister. According to Caputova, Horecky meets this criterion of the coalition leaders. "However, by being appointed as the minister, you cease to be the manager of one network of schools with a clearly defined worldview," she pointed out.
