Appeal to the Minister of Education Tomáš Drucker

 

We, the undersigned university rectors take the liberty of contacting You as representative of the Government of the Slovak Republic and the Minister of Education, to call on the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, to stop using intimidating and humiliating insults and vulgar language against his political opponents, the media or citizens, who disagree with him, in public discourse. We also ask You to emphasize to him the incompatibility of his position with a public attack against Comenius University Faculty of Law student Marek Janig, who together with more than 200 students officially addressed the dean of the Faculty of Law to professionally explain his position regarding the abolition of the Special Prosecutor's Office.

 

Attacking words from the people who have political power can also start physical violence. Profanity in the media and on social networks also has an impact on our youth, whom we, as educators, lead to decency, tolerance and self-control. A just and legal state can only exist in conditions of free discussion and mutual respect. No title or office seals anyone's truth. Part of our pedagogical practice is respecting the opinions of students, who equally respect the rules of decent communication, logical and rational argumentation.

 

Dear Minister, we believe that from the position of the Minister of Education and thanks to Your authority, You will emphatically call attention of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic to the fact that his disparaging comments about the legitimate initiative of committed young people are inappropriate and unworthy of his office. As top representatives of universities, we must not allow our students to be publicly intimidated or ridiculed. Not only in the academic field, but also in the public space, we support the democratic right of the young generation to ask questions and freely demand answers. Today is not the 1950s. Today is 34 years of freedom and 30 years of independence of the Slovak Republic. Young generations should rightfully be proud of its democratic achievements.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

doc. Samuel ABRAHÁM, PhD.
rector of the Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts

prof. PaedDr. René BÍLIK, CSc.
rector of the Trnava University

Dr. h. c. prof. Ing. Edita HEKELOVÁ, PhD.
rector of the School of Management

doc. Mgr. Bohunka KOKLESOVÁ, PhD.
rector of Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava

prof. PhDr. Egon KRÁK, ArtD.
rector of the Jan Albrecht music and art academy Banská Štiavnica

prof. PhDr. Martin ŠMATLÁK
rector of the Academy of Performing Arts Bratislava

Dr. h. c. prof. Ing. Juraj STERN, PhD.
rector of the Pan-European University

 

 

December 27, 2023