Bratislava, 1 September (TASR) - Protests were held on Monday in nearly 150 private schools in Slovakia to express their dissatisfaction with the draft school laws that are to be submitted to Parliament, head of the Association of Private Schools and School Facilities Eva Ohradanova, and representatives of an initiative called Not Like This! told a press conference on Monday, adding that a petition in this regard has been launched as of Monday. "Schools have included both the reading of the constitution and the reading of the petition in their opening ceremonies. They are engaging in protests along with their parents. They are doing so to protect the environment in which children grow up," said Ohradanova, noting that they are still open to discussing changes in the school laws, as well as to negotiations with Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD). She didn't rule out possible temporary short-term closure of classes at private schools and silent or vocal protests in case of continued discontent. A representative of the initiative presented the petition, which she said has already been signed by almost 5,000 people. "It is intended to preserve the rights of parents and children, equal freedom of choice and democratic principles in education," she said. Among other things, the petition asks MPs not to proceed with the debate on the bills. By signing the petition, citizens can express their disagreement with the proposals that have been submitted by the government to Parliament. At its session in August, the government approved a draft law on the financing of schools and school facilities that is aimed at expanding the range of reasons for reducing the normative contribution. Private or religious schools that aren't registered as public education providers could see a 20-percent cut. It also adopted a draft amendment to the Education Act and a draft law on school administration. am