Slovak Republic: Public education system, including attendance and funding requirements for primary and secondary schools; funding available for students seeking post-secondary education, including university, college or trade school (2013-May 2014)

1. Public Education System Structure

The European Commission's Eurydice network provides information about national education systems in Europe (Eurydice 20 Jan. 2014) and indicates on its web-based profile of Slovakia that the basic structure of the mainstream public education system consists of:

Pre-primary kindergarten education (voluntary non-compulsory): ages 3-6

Stage 1 (primary): grades 1-4, pupils usually ages 6-10

Stage 2 (primary; grade 9 lower secondary): grades 5-9, usually pupils ages 10-15

Stage 3 (secondary): lower and upper secondary education, usually pupils ages 15-19

Study to higher professional education and higher education, usually pupils ages 19-23 (Eurydice 18 Dec. 2013).

In addition, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, a Slovak embassy official indicated that students may take an examination in grade 6 for entry into an 8-year grammar school program called "real gymnasium" until the end of secondary (15 May 2014). According to Eurydice, in order to complete their lower secondary education, the student must successfully complete one of the following: the second stage of primary school (grade 9) or, "the first year of a five-year [regular secondary] educational programme" or, "the fourth year of an eight-year educational programme" (19 Dec. 2013).

1.1 Secondary Education

Sources report that students must apply for secondary school and pass selective entrance exams for entry into all different types of secondary schools (J. William Fulbright Commission n.d.b; European Commission 20 Dec. 2013; Slovakia 15 May 2014); exam results determine entry into either gymnasium or vocational secondary schools (ibid.). According to a profile of the Slovak national education system available on the European Commission's Euraxess Researchers in Motion website, a pan-European initiative providing access to information for European researchers (European Commission n.d.), secondary education is provided by the following types of schools in Slovakia:

Gymnasium (secondary grammar school): Provides general secondary education and prepares for further study at universities and other higher education institutions.

Conservatories: Conservatories are a special type of professional school that provides courses in such fields as Singing, Music, Dancing and Dramatic Arts.

Vocational secondary school: Prepares students for occupations requiring higher level vocational education and a School Leaving Certificate. Students may continue their studies at higher education institutions.

Specialised secondary [vocational] school: Prepares students for vocational education and for study at higher education institutions.

Apprentice training centres: Prepare school-leavers for professional activities. (ibid. 20 Dec. 2013)

Vocational secondary education prepares students for various occupations and work activities (Eurydice n.d.; J. William Fulbright Commission n.d.b) and is "provided for those not qualified to attend a secondary [grammar] school" (ibid.).

1.2 Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary Study

According to Eurydice, "post-secondary non-tertiary" study is also available for "students who have already passed the school-leaving examination in a secondary school study field and need to improve their knowledge and skills in this study field, to obtain qualification in another study field" (Eurydice n.d.). This is an academic "upgrade" and graduates obtain a certificate in a specialist area (J. William Fulbright Commission n.d.b), according to the J. William Fulbright Commission in Bratislava, a non-profit institution that promotes educational exchanges in Slovakia (ibid. n.d.a). According to the UNESCO-IBE report, post-secondary non-tertiary study is at least two years and may allow for later study at higher education institutions (UN Feb. 2012, 6-7).

1.3 Special Schools

According to the Roma Education Fund (REF), a fund contributed to by government donors, private foundations and multilateral agencies and that provides funding for projects that assist Roma in the field of education (REF n.d.), all children entering primary school are assessed for "school-readiness," with assessment methods varying from school to school (REF 2011, 19). Eurydice also reports that children in Slovakia undergo an examination by a "counseling (psychological) establishment" and that those who have reached age six and are not "adequately physically or mentally developed" may postpone entrance into primary school, or integrate into a zero grade class (18 Dec. 2013).

Sources indicate that "special schools" are provided for students with special needs, from kindergarten to secondary levels (J. William Fulbright Commission n.d.b, 2-3; UN Feb. 2012, 6). According to a profile of the education system in Slovakia compiled by UNESCO and the International Bureau of Education (IBE), "special schools" do not provide access to higher level education (ibid., 6). The REF indicates that graduates of "special" primary schools may attend a "special technical school," which permits graduates to work under the supervision of more highly skilled workers, or a "practical school," which allows graduates to work in "special workplaces" for persons with "mental disabilities" (2011, 21).

According to the US Department of State's Country Reports 2013, authorities "disproportionately" enrolled Roma children in "special" schools, despite often not requiring this (27 Feb. 2014, 25). Similarly, the REF explains that

recommendations for Romani children assessed as ... being unready for school at age six includeral of school attendance for a year, enrollment in a zero grade [preparation year for entry into primary], and enrollment in special education. The most frequent solution for non-Romani children assessed as not school-ready,ral of school attendance, is the least frequent solution for similarly assessed Romani children. (2011, 19)

Country Reports 2013 adds that transferring to regular school later was "difficult or impossible," and that regular schools have "very few" Roma students, "especially at the secondary level" (US 27 Feb. 2014, 25). Country Reports 2013 further indicates that "a special school education did not provide Roma children the knowledge and certification necessary to pursue higher education" (27 Feb. 2014, 24). For detailed information on the situation of Roma children in the education system, see Response SVK100782.

2. Compulsory Public Education Attendance

According to a UNESCO-IBE report, pre-school is not compulsory (UN Feb. 2012, 6). Eurydice says that compulsory primary education begins at the age of six, and that compulsory schooling lasts ten years until the end of the school year in which the student turns 16 (18 Dec. 2013). Meanwhile, Country Reports 2013 indicates that education is compulsory until the age of 15 (US 27 Feb. 2014, 24). According to the REF, mandatory school attendance in Slovakia is for ten years or until age sixteen, "whichever comes first," noting that "[f]or this reason, pupils who repeat a grade in primary education generally complete mandatory education while still in primary school" (2011, 20).

3. Public School Fees

Eurydice reports that in public schools, education for primary and secondary levels is provided "free of charge" (18 Dec. 2013). According to Country Reports 2013, in Slovakia, "education is universal and free through the postsecondary level" (US 27 Feb. 2014, 24). The official at the Slovak embassy indicated that there are no tuition fees for public school for primary and secondary, but that public schools may charge "service fees" to cover the costs of meals and after-school programs (15 May 2014).

While the UNESCO-IBE report says that pre-primary education or kindergarten is provided on a "fee-paying basis" (UN Feb. 2012, 6), Eurydice says thata partial contribution is required, as determined by the kindergarten director (Eurydice 8 Aug. 2013b). However, if the child is a year before beginning primary school or if parents receive "material hardship" benefits, they reportedly do not have to pay (ibid.). The official at the Slovak embassy indicated that for preschool (from age 3 until 5 or 6), no tuition fees are charged, but that municipal public pre-schools may charge "service fees" for meals and other services (15 May 2014).

4. Financial Support for Families of Students in Primary and Secondary School

Information in the following section comes from the Eurydice website. A "family allowance" is a "state social benefit" that may be provided to a permanent or temporary resident, who is a parent or guardian of a dependent child (Eurydice 8 Aug. 2013b). The allowance is "designed for people who are retired and continue their care as parents" of a dependent child (ibid.). To be eligible for a family allowance, "older children" must be "in continuous preparation for a vocation studying at a secondary school (from the beginning of the school year in 1st grade);" at a "higher education institution," or be 18 years old and enrolled in a "full-time course" to obtain primary education (ibid.). A "scholarship" may be provided to a full-time student of a secondary school, an apprentice school, or a practical school, if they are subject to the "material hardship benefit;" an application is made by the student or their guardian to the headteacher of the school and the headteacher may determine the amount awarded monthly (ibid.). The amount may be 25 percent, 35 percent, or 50 percent of the "subsistence minimum" and this amount is determined based on school achievement the previous year (ibid.). Further information about financial support for primary-secondary learners could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

5. Public Higher Education Institutions

According to the European Commission, the "general prerequisite" for entry into higher education study is a "school-leaving certificate," which is obtained after passing the secondary school-leaving examination; the exam is taken upon completion of "13, exceptionally, 12 years of study" (European Commission 20 Dec. 2013). Similarly, the Slovak embassy official indicated that "four-year gymnasium" and "four-year vocational" schooling with the "maturita exam" allows students to apply for higher education at a university (Slovakia 15 May 2014). Sources indicate that there are two types of public higher education institutions: "university-type" and "non-university type" (J. William Fulbright Commission n.d.b; European Commission 27 Nov. 2013). According to the European Commission, university-type institutions provide for studies at the bachelor's [first-level undergraduate], master's, and doctoral levels; non-university type institutions provide "higher education mostly in the study programmes of the first level" (ibid.). Similarly, the official at the Slovak embassy said that in Slovakia, "universities" are accredited institutions that offer undergraduate, master's and PhD degrees (Slovakia 15 May 2014). "Non-university type" institutions also provide bachelor level education but do not have graduate level programs; the bachelor qualifications at both types of institutions are the same (ibid.).

5.1 Fees at Public Higher Education Institutions

According to the official at the Slovak embassy, there are no tuition fees at public higher education institutions; however some schools may charge service fees or registration fees to all students (Slovakia 15 May 2014). A report by Eurydice on student fees paid in Slovakia indicates that full-time students of public higher education institutions pay between 10 euros [C$15 (XE 20 May 2014)] and 100 EUR for registration every academic year, but do not pay tuition fees if they do not exceed the "regular" length of the time of study (Eurydice 2012/2013, 30). However, if students exceed the "'regular' length of study" or study multiple programs in one year, they may pay up to 1,525 EUR each academic year for first-cycle undergraduate study (ibid.). The maximum tuition fee for public higher institutions in 2013/2014 was 1,960 EUR for students admitted to part-time or external programs (ibid.). Eurydice notes that "tuition and other fees at public higher education institutions cannot exceed 50 percent of the average costs of full-time education" (ibid.).

5.2 Higher Education Financial Support

According to Eurydice, students of higher education institutions may be provided with direct financial support in the form of merit-based "motivation scholarships;" the number and amount of these scholarships are determined by the higher education institution (Eurydice 8 Aug. 2013a). Eurydice reports that 17 percent of students received a merit-based grant in 2012-2013 (Eurydice 2012/2013, 30). According to the official at the Slovak embassy, some universities will offer scholarships to students with high grades, or if the university does not have a lot of funding, they may waive the service fees for exceptional students (Slovakia 15 May 2014). The official also indicated that Slovak students also have access to EU funding to study in countries outside Slovakia (ibid.).

Slovak students may apply for a "social scholarship" under certain conditions determined by the Ministry of Education and higher education institutions, according to Eurydice (Eurydice 8 Aug. 2013a). A social scholarship is available only to students in their first year of full-time study and is awarded to students based on the amount of family income and home situation (ibid.). The amount of social scholarships varies from 10 to 270 EUR per month (ibid. 2012/2013, 30).

A "scholarship for the disadvantaged" is available to students with "severe disabilities" (ibid. 8 Aug. 2013a). Students in this situation must apply to the higher education institution with a supporting medical report; this application is then considered by a committee (ibid.).

Students who are nationals of the Slovak Republic, with permanent residence in the country and who are studying full-time, may apply for a loan from the Fund for Education Support once per academic year to a maximum of six loans; the minimum loan is 500 EUR and the maximum loan is 3,000 EUR, with a maximum repayment period of 10 years (ibid.).

The REF has a "secondary scholarship's programme" to assist Roma students (REF Jan. 2012). The Open Society Foundation of Slovakia (Nadácia otvorenej spolocnosti, NOS-OSF), a Bratislava-based NGO that is part of the Open Society Foundations network founded by the philanthropist George Soros and provides grants to NGOs that promote human rights for disadvantaged groups such as Roma (NOS-OSF n.d.a), also has secondary and university scholarships for Roma students "aged 15 to 20 and full-time and part-time university students, coming mostly from a disadvantaged social background" (NOS-OSF n.d.b). Further information about scholarships for Roma could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. For more detailed information on NGOs involved in Roma issues, including education, see Response to Information Request SVK104833.

6. Schools in the cities of Levoca, Spišská Nová Ves, in the village of Smižany and in the regions of Prešov and Košice

The Slovak embassy official provided the following information on schools in Levoca, Spišská Nová Ves, and Smižany, based on lists of schools for 2013-2014 posted on the Ministry of Education Institute of Information and Prognoses of Education website (Slovakia 15 May 2014):

Public Primary Schools:

15 in the okres [district] of Levoca, 3 of which are in the municipality of Levoca (Slovakia Nov. 2013, 134);

32 in the okres of Spišská Nová Ves, 7 of which are in the municipality of Spišská Nová Ves and 1 in the village of Smižany (ibid., 176, 177);

Special Primary Schools: 4 in Levoca (ibid., 205); 9 in the okres Spišská Nová Ves, 2 of which are in the municipality of Spišská Nová Ves (ibid., 211).

Public Secondary Schools:

Gymnasium Schools: 2 in Levoca municipality and 3 in Spišská Nová Ves municipality (ibid. 15 Sept. 2013a);

Vocational secondary schools (stredné odborné skoly): 3 in Levoca municipality and 5 in Spišská Nová Ves municipality (ibid. 15 Sept. 2013b);

Specialized Secondary Vocational Schools: 4 in Levoca and 2 in Spišská Nová Ves (ibid. 9 Sept. 2013).

Public higher education institutions:

In Prešov region, there is the University of Prešov, in Prešov municipality (Eurydice 11 Mar. 2014).

In Košice region, there are three universities: the Technical University of Košice, the University of P.J. Safarik, and the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, all located in the municipality of Košice (ibid.). According to the official at the Slovak embassy, in addition to these three, there is also a university for security studies in Košice (15 May 2014).

A representative of the Slovak Academic Association for International Cooperation (SAAIC), a voluntary non-governmental association of institutions of higher education in Slovakia (SAAIC n.d.), provided a list of schools from the government's Institute of Information and Prognoses of Education in correspondence with the Research Directorate (SAICC 20 May 2014). The list indicates that in the whole region of Prešov, there are a total of 108 public secondary schools, of which 27 provide for special education needs (disabled, talented, gifted students); in Košice region, there are a total of 90 public secondary schools, of which 21 provide for special education needs (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

European Commission. 20 December 2013. Euraxess. "Slovakia: School Education." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 27 November 2013. Euraxess. "Slovakia: Higher Education." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. N.d. "EURAXESS Researchers in Motion." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

Eurydice. 11 March 2014. "Slovakia: Higher Education Institutions." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 20 January 2014. "About Eurydice." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 19 December 2013. "Slovakia: Organisation of Single Structure Education." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 18 December 2013. "Slovakia - Organisation of the Education System and Its Structure." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 8 August 2013a. "Slovakia: Higher Education Funding." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 8 August 2013b. "Slovakia: Early Childhood and School Education Funding." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 2012/2013. "Slovakia." National Student Fee and Support Systems. European Commission. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. N.d. "Organisation of Vocational and Technical Upper Secondary Education." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

J. William Fulbright Commission. N.d.a. "The J. William Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange in the Slovak Republic." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. N.d.b. The Educational System in the Slovak Republic. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

Nadácia otvorenej spolocnosti (NOS-OSF). N.d.a. "About Us." [Accessed 20 Mar. 2014]

_____. N.d.b. "Secondary School and University Scholarship Program for Roma." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

Roma Education Fund (REF). January 2012. "Updated Active Projects March 2014." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 2011. Country Assessment: Slovakia. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. N.d. "History of REF." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

Slovak Academic Association for International Cooperation (SAAIC). 20 May 2014. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

_____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 5 May 2014]

Slovakia. 15 May 2014. Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Ottawa. Correspondence from an official to the Research Directorate.

_____. November 2013. Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport. Siet škôl a školských zariadení, stredísk praktického vyucovania a pracovísk praktického vyucovania - cast: štátne základné školy a štátne špeciálne základné školy. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 15 September 2013a. Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport. Pocty žiakov denného štúdia na gymnáziách. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 15 September 2013b. Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport. Pocty žiakov denného štúdia v stredných odborných školách. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

_____. 9 September 2013. Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport. Pocty žiakov denného štúdia v špeciálnych stredných školách. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

United Nations (UN). February 2012. UNESCO and International Bureau of Education (IBE). World Data on Education VII. 2010/2011: Slovakia. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

United States (US). 27 February 2014. Department of State. "Slovakia." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. [Accessed 5 May 2014]

XE. 20 May 2014. "Currency Converter." [Accessed 20 May 2014]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following organizations were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Open Society Foundations; Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Košice; Prešov University; Slovakia - Institute of Information and Prognoses of Education, Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport, Municipality of Levoca, Municipality of Smižany, Department of Education and Municipality of Spišská Nová Ves.

Internet sites, including: Ecoi.net; European Roma Rights Centre; Factiva; Gymnasium Javorova 16; Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development; Slovakia - Department of Education and Municipality of Spišská Nová Ves, Institute of Information and Prognoses of Education, Košice-region.sk, mapaskol.iedu.sk, Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport, Municipality of Levoca, Municipality of Smižany, National Institute of Education, Portalvs.sk, Prešovsky-kraj.sk; Open Society Foundations; Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Košice; Prešov University; United Nations - Refworld; Roma Institute.