Slovakia: Open Letter from ŠRVŠ and ESU to the Minister of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic

Dear Minister Tomáš Drucker,

The Student Council for Higher Education (ŠRVŠ), the highest representative body of students in Slovakia, together with the European Students’ Union (ESU), an organisation representing 20 million students at European level, express their deep concern and strong opposition to the proposed increase in value added tax (VAT) on books from 10% to 23%, which is part of the Government’s consolidation measures.

We have no doubt that education is one of the most important pillars of society and, therefore, any revision affecting this area should be carefully considered, keeping in mind the long-term consequences.

Increasing the price of books, which are an integral part of personal and academic growth, may have a negative impact, especially on students who are already facing many financial challenges, particularly those from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Unlike in the Czech Republic, where VAT on books is zero, Slovaks are facing rising costs for educational materials alongside other rising costs of living such as the price of dormitories, the cost of food and the cost of services necessary for studying. In this respect, students are among the most vulnerable social groups to be affected by the VAT change, so we are opposing the further increase in the price of books. This  would really make them accessible only to the wealthy. Notably, Slovak students rank as the second lowest in monthly income compared to their European peers, with 57% of them assessing their financial situation as challenging—placing Slovakia above the European average  (Eurostudent VIII, 2024).

Slovakia has been facing a brain drain for a long time now, particularly to the Czech Republic. We now know that the exodus of young people is devastating for our state, especially from an economic point of view, as the outflow of one university educated person deprives our state of EUR 2 843 000 (Office of the Government, 2023). State policies should, therefore, focus on how to keep these people in Slovakia, not on how to lure them away by raising taxes on something as essential and formative for a young person as books undoubtedly are.

Dear Minister Drucker, we are relying on you in the hope that you will take the side of the students, because we are convinced of your sincere desire to shape a better-educated society, and also of your ability to enforce from your position the halt to the VAT increase on books. The Government’s own programme statement also expresses your clear ambition to improve funding for education. It also declares the need for pupils, students, teachers, researchers and other representatives of education to feel genuinely supported by the state. Furthermore, Slovakia has committed to the Principles and Guidelines to Strengthen the Social Dimension of Higher Education of the European Higher Education Area. We believe that a rapid increase in VAT on books would also be a step in the wrong direction in this context. 

Both ŠRVŠ and ESU are convinced that Slovakia needs leaders who will stand on the side of education, because their decisions can be crucial for the successful future of our country and for the formation of a responsible civil society ready to face the current challenges of the democratic world.

We believe that, as you have done in the past, you will stand up today to defend young people who believe in a future in Slovakia, so that we can proudly study, work and live here.

Yours Sincerely,

Presidency of the Student Council for Higher Education

Presidency of the European Students’ Union