Learning Slovakia

In 2017, a major nationwide debate was held on the National Education and Training Program "Learning Slovakia" 

• 70 aims for the next 10 years of development of educational system in the Slovak Republic.

Main proposed changes:

• To extend compulsory education to 11 years and establish its beginning at the age of 5 years
• To adapt education to the needs of the child, its talents and abilities
• To incorporate soft skills into educational programs
• To create teaching situations where pupils learn from each other within the framework of curricula
• To allow adaptation of the curriculum at the level of individual classes or teachers.
• To liberalize the market with teaching books and retain the choice of textbooks, teaching materials and teaching aids for schools

Current debates in 2021:

• The expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education system and the future of the youth, especially on the youth who could not take part in distance learning, 
• The Slovak Recovery plan for the education system, 
• Updates of the strategies on youth, on inclusive and global education and on lifelong learning, 
• Amendment of the School law and the Law on pedagogical and professional school staff.