after becoming independent, patriotic sentiment ran high and slovaks sensed immediately the need to establish a slovak high school in the area, in order to provide higher education in slovak language for the populace in eastern slovakia. at first the choice stood between three sites in the zemplin region, which were the cities of humenne, trebisov and michalovce. due to its ability to provide sufficient funds and staffing, michalovce soon became the obvious choice for the construction of the new school.