The Slovak Bishops’ Conference warned on September 10 that the government’s proposal to cut state funding by 20% to private and Church schools that do not meet new criteria “represents a serious risk of weakening the character and financial stability of Catholic schools.” This was reported by The Pillar.
The bishops “unequivocally” asked the Ministry of Education to modify the plan, which would require religious schools to eliminate tuition fees, integrate into local school districts, and accept at least 70% of students from their neighborhood in order to maintain 100% of the state subsidy.
“Without a fair and clear amendment to the law, it will not be possible to guarantee equality in education or preserve the fundamental rights of parents in the education of their children,” the prelates stated.
A threat to parents’ rights
The bishops recalled that “the free choice of school based on religious beliefs is one of the fundamental rights of parents and children,” urging the ministry to prepare a “fair, balanced, and sustainable” solution.
The measure, approved in August by the coalition government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, still must pass through Parliament. If approved, it would take effect in January 2026, with the 20% reduction applying from 2027.
Criticism and social opposition
According to The Pillar, associations of private and Catholic schools have openly criticized the plan, while a petition against it has already gathered more than 15,000 signatures. The opposition party Christian Democratic Movement has pointed out that the changes “would discriminate against children in religious institutions.”
The government, for its part, defends the reform by claiming it seeks to standardize funding rules and avoid a system that, in its opinion, favors higher-income households.
The Church also rejects eliminating religious holidays
The Slovak bishops also expressed their rejection of another government proposal: the abolition of three holidays, including January 6, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, one of the most important celebrations for Latin-rite Catholics in the country.
The Minister of Finance, Ladislav Kamenický, justified the measure as part of a package to balance public accounts. But the prelates warned: “Holidays are associated with the experience of faith and traditions within the family and community. Suppressing them for economic reasons cannot be the only criterion for assessing their benefit to society.”