Open letter to the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic doc. JUDr. Róbert Fico, CSc. Dear Prime Minister, The Asociácia vzdelávateľov v sociálnej práci (AVSP), as a scholarly and professional association of universities, colleges and experts who provide education in the study programme of social work in Slovakia, considers it necessary to respond to Your public statements, which lead to the questioning of the importance of the social sciences for the needs of practice, among others also of social work, and whose study You label as "nonsense" or "five years of a wasted life". We consider such assertions to be inappropriate, simplifying and, at the same time, seriously damaging to the social perception of the profession of social work. Social work is an established scholarly discipline and, at the same time, a legislatively regulated profession with clearly defined competences in relation to clients, as well as with unambiguously established requirements for professional qualification. The Slovak Republic has long faced several serious social challenges, which manifest themselves, for example, in the growth of working poverty, the increasing number of destabilized families, problems connected with social exclusion, the ageing of the population, or the increase in various forms of risky behaviour. Responding to these challenges requires qualified experts prepared by systematic university education and professional practice. The members of AVSP prepare students for the exercise of the profession of social workers and assistants in social work, who find employment especially in the sectors of labour, social affairs and family, healthcare, and education. These are experts ensuring, for example, the exercise of measures of the social and legal protection of children and social guardianship, the provision of social services, work with families in crisis situations, support for people threatened by social exclusion, or prevention and intervention in the matter of risky social phenomena. AVSP brings together academic workplaces and experts who have long devoted themselves to the development of the theory, research and practice of social work. Our mission is to contribute to the development of theoretical knowledge and practical competences in social work, to support the quality of university education, to cooperate with public institutions, and to participate in the creation of professional standards and public policies in the social sphere. For this reason, we consider it unfortunate if a representative of the executive power publicly diminishes the importance of a profession that is indispensable for the stability and cohesion of society. Such statements negatively affect the social recognition of the profession of social workers, the motivation of young people to enter the helping professions, and ultimately also the ability of the state to respond to social problems. The study of social work is not "wasted time". It is professional preparation for a demanding and socially extraordinarily needed profession, which contributes to the protection of human dignity, social justice, and the stability of society. We therefore call upon You to take into account, in Your public appearances, the importance of social work and to respect the work of the thousands of experts who are active in this field. At the same time, we declare our readiness to conduct a professional dialogue about the real needs of social policy, about the education of social workers, and about systemic solutions to the social problems of the Slovak Republic. We believe that the common goal of us all is a society capable of responding sensitively and professionally to the needs of the most vulnerable members of society. Chairwoman of AVSP doc. PhDr. Šavrnochová Michaela, PhD. International support The open letter was also supported by: Asociace vzdělavatelů v sociální práci, z. s., Česká republika Profesní komora sociálních pracovníku, z. s., Česká republika Společnost sociálních pracovníků ČR, z. s., Česká republika Profesní svaz sociálních pracovníků v sociálních službách, Asociace poskytovatelů sociálních služeb ČR, Česká republika Source of the statement in PDF: https://avspsr.weebly.com/aktuality/otvoreny-list-predsedovi-vlady-sr Asociácia vzdelávateľov v sociálnej práci (AVSP) www.avspsr