Around three quarters of young people in Slovakia aged 16 to 17 are considering moving abroad, Children’s Commissioner Jozef Mikloško said, citing a new nationwide survey presented at the Children and Youth Parliament on Wednesday.
According to the findings, around 38 percent say they are firmly decided to leave after finishing secondary school or later in life, while another 37 percent are considering it and view the option positively. The research, conducted with more than 10,000 respondents in cooperation with Trnava University, also found that over 42 percent of those thinking about leaving do not plan to return as nearly two thirds doubt that conditions for young people in Slovakia will improve.
Among the more positive findings, the survey showed that more than 60 percent of respondents are proud to be Slovak, while over 80 percent consider Slovakia their home. Psychologist Mária Dědová says many young people want to gain experience, develop their skills and improve their standard of living abroad. At the same time, she notes, many still hope to return, start families and use what they have learned back home.
The results were presented during a session focused on shaping a long-term vision for the country from the perspective of young people. Among the guests was also President Peter Pellegrini. He welcomed the active involvement of young people, saying Slovakia needs a clear long-term vision that goes beyond election cycles and sets stable priorities for the years ahead. He also praised the ideas put forward by young participants acting as “shadow ministers” to address key challenges across different sectors, and expressed hope that this cooperation will continue to grow.
Source: STVR, TASR
