Unemployed often ignore educational project
Bratislava, 26. 6. 2006, 11:18 (CTK)

The project of the completion of the elementary school for the unemployed, on which the state has spent about 15 million crowns, is not very efficient since many of the unemployed, mostly Romanies, rapidly abandon the studies, some headteachers told CTK today.

In Filakovo, south Slovakia, a mere four of the 12 participants stayed till the end of the course, headteacher Karol Bolla told CTK.

Despite this, the Labour Ministry wants to continue with the project.

"The students lack motivation because even if they finish the school, it does not help them much in their search for work," Bolla said, adding that the certificate about the completion of the school is not required from any firm, while seasonal work can be found by the unemployed even with incomplete education.

Bolla suggested a solution. The completed elementary school should be a condition for the granting of driving licence and other things.

"One student is a musician and he goes to play to Hungary. When he learnt there that with the completed elementary school he can receive a higher salary, he put up much more effort than the rest," Bolla said.

Later this week, three out of the twelve unemployed who joined the project are to complete the elementary school in Lucenec, south Slovakia. "Some of them have found jobs, while some believed that all they need is to come round once or twice a week as they do it at the job office," teacher Zita Kabatova told CTK.

Some of the unemployed left the school although they obtained a contribution from the job office, free food and reimbursement of travelling expenses of 4000 crowns a month, she said.

On the other hand, one or two students are as good as to continue with their studies at a high school, Kabatova said.

The attempts to provide education to the unemployed are inevitable despite the poor efficiency of the project, expert Denisa Selicka from the Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, West Slovakia, said.

"We must educate the adults because only in this way they can understand what is vital for their children," Selicka said. Or else, the myth that someone else, the state in particular, should look after people, would survive, especially in Romany settlements, she added.

The Labour Ministry wants to continue with the education of the unemployed the next school year, too.

"We have decided to widen the project and include the chance to complete vocational training and to offer the 'employment practice,'" Radko Duda from the Labour Ministry's press department told CTK.

However, the headteachers would welcome it if the project started in September, not in January as this year. The unemployed need more time to learn the subjects, Kabatova said.

The students are mostly interested in the work with computers, Bolla said.

The unemployment rate in Slovakia stood at 10.56 percent in May.

The highest number of the people without completed elementary education is in some East Slovak districts.

CTK