In response to the 2020 Council Recommendation on VET and the Osnabrück Declaration on VET, the education ministry prepared a comprehensive National implementation plan (NIP), which sets out the following eight objectives to address European priorities and achieve national targets:
excellent, inclusive and accessible VET for all;
high employment rate of graduates;
sustainable and competitive fields of study/qualifications in IVET and CVET relevant to labour market needs based on digital...
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Eight priority areas were identified in relation to the achievement of the objectives, five of which explicitly target VET, two target lifelong learning in parallel with VET ((f) and (h)) and one targets interlinking general education and VET (e):
centres of excellence in VET;
in-company training centres;
higher VET transformation;
quality assurance in IVET and CVET;
prevention of early school leaving;
basic skills;
individual learning accounts;
a new system of lifelong learning...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
LLCS 2030 focuses on the most urgent topics that were not or were only partly covered by the National recovery and resilience plan. It also paves the way for the replacement of the obsolete Lifelong Learning Act (568/2009) with new legislation.
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What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
LLCS 2030 focuses on four thematic areas: qualification system; basic skills and civic education; lifelong learning and counselling, and motivation of citizens for lifelong learning; and building a system of skills management and identification of lifelong learning needs. It proposes 51 measures divided into 13 thematic units corresponding to topics in need of urgent intervention:
second chance education and ‘F-type programmes’ (ISCED 253) for low achievers in lower secondary general...
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation
In addition to the provision of IVET and CVET (upskilling, reskilling), Centres of excellence in VET (CeEVETs) must offer retraining of teachers, head instructors and instructors, offer work-based learning opportunities for dual learners contracted by SMEs, and be an interface between basic schools (lower secondary education in particular) and VET schools and between VET schools and higher education institutions for career choice and VET-related aspects. CeEVETs will be responsible for the...
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What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The creation of centres of excellence in VET (CeEVETs) is determined by the Lifelong learning and counselling strategy for 2021-30 adopted by the government on 24 November 2021. According to the strategy action plan, a pilot phase of transforming some of the existing centres of VET into CeEVETs should already start in 2022, co-funded from ESIF (specific objective 1.4 ‘Developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship’ of Operational programme Slovakia...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation
The component of the National recovery and resilience plan (RRP) Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education at all levels contains reform on Implementation of tools to prevent early school-leaving and adapt F-type VET programmes. The objectives of the Lifelong learning and counselling strategy for 2021-30 related to this component of RRP are:
to increase the permeability of the VET system by cancelling dead-end in VET currently represented by the F-type programmes;
...
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What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The Lifelong learning and counselling strategy for 2021-30, approved by the government on 24 November 2021, tackles this issue in Part ‘Second chance education and F-type programmes’ that suggests four measures aimed at:
transformation of the former F-type programmes into ‘combined’ programmes offering both completion of lower secondary general education and receiving at least EQF level 2 VET qualification allowing for continuity in initial VET;
allowing exceptional extension of lower...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The objective of the relevant part of the Lifelong learning and counselling strategy for 2021-30 is strengthening legislative, financial and institutional support for improving the basic skills of adults.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The following five measures are set by the Lifelong learning and counselling strategy for 2021-30:
embedding the term ‘basic skills’ in the Lifelong Learning Act;
piloting tools for mapping, assessing and testing basic skill levels of low-skilled adults;
improving digital skills of citizens in line with the Reform 6 component ‘Digital Slovakia’ of the National recovery and resilience plan;
introducing piloting a financing scheme for support of non-formal learning of low-skilled adults...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Government Office of the Slovak Republic
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation
The National recovery and resilience plan promotes reforms at all education levels, including VET-related objectives in the components Education for the 21st Century and Increasing the performance of Slovak higher education institutions.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The National recovery and resilience plan sets out a package of reforms and public investments to be implemented by 2026. For programmes at ISCED levels 0 to 5, the component Education for the 21st Century mainly focuses on reforming the curriculum, introducing new education methodologies, and updating textbooks. The main goal of the curriculum reform is to improve learner competences needed for the 21st century (critical thinking, digital and soft skills).
The plan also prioritises teacher...
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significantly strengthen the influence of employers' representatives on the provision of secondary VET, for example by:
extending the responsibilities of the Employer Council for Dual VET to the entire system of vocational education and training that is also visible in the change of the name to the Employer Council for VET;
empowering ‘sectoral assignees’ to propose the experimental verification of new VET programmes in order to strengthen supply of programmes...
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The amendment of this legislation was initiated by employers' representatives based on the experience of the ESF project 'Dual education and increasing attractiveness and quality of VET'. In March 2021, the education ministry submitted a draft amendment to the Act on VET (61/2015) to public discussion, with the proposed entering into force from 1 September 2021.
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Some changes in this legislation also have an impact on the provision of VET, especially in efforts:
to revise the 2008 curricular reform, in particular, to adjust the creation of school curricula (school educational programmes) to strengthen the development of key competences;
to streamline admission to secondary schools, e. g. by sending a single electronic application declaring interest in alternative programmes and secondary schools, and allow additional admission corrections in case...
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What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In January 2021, the education ministry submitted to public discussion an extensive amendment of the Education act (245/2008), which provoked a heated debate with more than 1 000 comments, of which more than 680 were fundamental. In March 2021, therefore, the revised version was resubmitted for public discussion.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Improved VET provision and better alignment to labour market needs can contribute to boosting growth in underdeveloped regions.
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The Catching-up regions initiative, in cooperation with regional authorities, aims to identify challenges and priority areas at regional level to direct investments to. Improving VET programmes in line with labour market needs can foster economic development in regions lagging behind.
The initiative was initially carried out in the Prešov region in 2018. In 2019, a report was published providing specific suggestions on how to improve secondary VET. The cooperation with the Banská Bystrica...
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Prešov Self-Governing Region
Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region
Košice Self-Governing Region
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation
The main objective of the plan is to suggest reforms and specific measures that will increase the country’s per capita GDP to reach 92% of the EU-27 average by 2030.
Description
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The finance ministry was responsible for preparing the National integrated reform plan (NIRP). Over 100 experts, including analysts from respective ministries and experts from NGOs and businesses, contributed to the identification of milestones, measurable goals and required costs in eight priority areas. The following are the most relevant to VET:
education;
research, development and innovations;
digitalisation;
labour market and social sustainability.
The priority area education...
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Following the declaration of the extraordinary situation and the state of emergency, the education ministry had to act in accordance with the crisis management measures:
harmonising procedures for dealing with employment relationships with teachers and other staff who were unable to work at school;
adapting the content and forms of distance learning;
adjusting institutional procedures (especially concerning the admission procedure and the completion of studies).
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What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
After the closure of schools, teachers began spontaneously to move to distance learning using communication platforms (such as Zoom); at the same time, the burden of work was transferred onto learners and households. Very soon, the need to ease the school's pressure to evaluate learners' performance from a distance became apparent, partly because it is not easy to distinguish learners' own performance from domestic support and also because the conditions for domestic performance are very...
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The aim of the national ESF project Sector-driven innovations for an efficient labour market in the Slovak Republic is to create measures for continuous improvement of employees' adaptability to new labour market requirements and more accurate identification of the skills needs of the workforce through the NSO web platform (based on employer demand).
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What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The budget for this 2019-23 ESF project managed by the labour ministry in cooperation with Trexima Ltd. is approximately EUR 20 million. The main activities include:
managing activities of the Alliance of sectoral councils, SC activities and working groups, in accordance with the strategic tasks of the current National employment strategy;
ensuring sector-driven adaptation of workers to changes in labour market demand and sectoral inputs for a lifelong learning system with a special...
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This document quantifies expenditures on current social protection and inclusion policies, assesses their effectiveness and accessibility, and examines existing data collection settings. Based on the findings, it proposes measures to improve the social inclusion of vulnerable groups and to unlock the untapped potential for economic growth.
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What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Overall, the spending review proposes a series of measures regarding social inclusion, data collection and methodology development, the management of systems not sensitive to additional funding, as well as three austerity measures. Many were related to education.
One austerity measure was linked to VET, requiring that contributions to the so-called activation work of the unemployed provided by municipalities (focusing predominantly on unskilled activities, such as street sweeping, waste...
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
A new act was adopted on pedagogical staff and professional staff (138/2019) in 2019 complemented by two decrees (361/2019 on education for professional development and 1/2020 on qualification requirements). The act cancelled:
the original credit system, but retained the right to a salary supplement for certain types of in-service training (especially when obtaining new qualifications), thus significantly reducing the link between salary bonuses and completion of in-service training;
the...
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The ambition of the strategy was to present the country’s vision regarding digital transformation, the preconditions for its implementation and the priority areas. The strategy set the basis for designing specific measures at a later stage.
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In the short term, three priority areas have been identified by the strategy, forming a basis for the 2019-22 action plan:
promoting digital transformation of schools, improving education environment, enhancing learners’ digital competences and improving their employment prospects;
laying the foundations for a modern data-based and digital economy and the digital transformation of the economy as a whole;
improving the capacity of public administration to make use of data and innovation...
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for Investments and Informatisation
Digital Coalition
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation
The aim of the national ESF project, System of verifying qualifications, is to set up a comprehensive system for verifying qualifications and results of non-formal and informal learning. The specific objectives are to:
establish structures and set mandatory procedures for lifelong learning with an emphasis on the validation and recognition of qualifications;
pilot in practice the system of validation of qualifications and their parts (units of learning outcomes).
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The project System of verifying qualifications, run by the State Institute of Vocational Education, started in 2019 and is expected to be completed on 1 February 2023. It aims to complement existing qualification standards of the National system of qualifications (NSQ) by developing assessment manuals and to suggest and pilot processes of validation of non-formal and informal learning concerning approximately 300 qualifications. 72 qualification cards placed in the national registry of NSQ...
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
A short-term forecasting model initiated by the labour ministry is aimed at offering an estimation of the workforce needed in the main sectors of the economy and also in respective fields of study.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
A forecasting model was developed in 2015 under the supervision of the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (COLSAF, public employment services authority). The labour ministry presents the forecast of labour market needs, structured by fields of study and regions, every year.
Sponsored by ESF and the labour ministry, two new tools 'odborogram' and 'profesiometer', focusing on human resource planning and career guidance and counselling, were developed and launched in 2019....
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (COLSAF)
The objective was to implement quality assurance procedures in Slovakia based on international experience and to set the quality indicators adjusted to the national environment and culture.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The national EQAVET implementation report (2016-20), containing measures to strengthen quality assurance in IVET, has been prepared. At the end of 2016, ŠIOV, the quality assurance national reference point (QANRP), joined a European project aiming to introduce peer review in the country. Another Erasmus+ project Mobility for quality (June 2017 - November 2018), run by ŠIOV, resulted in training the staff of the institute as well as practitioners from education institutions in the European...
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Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
to organise consultations with stakeholders, including national and regional authorities, relevant public agencies, research organisations, employer representatives and trade union representatives;
to prepare a comprehensive overview of what policy-makers and practitioners in Slovakia think about the current situation;
to offer inputs to the discussion concerning ensuring effective links between the education and training system and the needs of the...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Slovakia participates in Cedefop's country reviews on Governance of EU skills anticipation and matching systems. The aim of the project is to improve the management and coordination of skills anticipation efforts, making existing skills anticipation initiatives more useful for policy, and better linking skills intelligence to education and training. Within this cooperation, an initial country report was commissioned and offered for comment to the education ministry in February 2018; it was...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Offering data to reduce the supply-demand mismatch.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (public employment service) coordinates the national project Prognosis of labour market development, which is carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family. The complex electronic system developed by Trexima based on the interlinking of administrative data sources along with surveys tracks graduates from the time they graduate. It is thus possible to identify various aspects for specific groups...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (COLSAF)
A framework regulation of in-company trainer training, set by the legislation, required further elaboration. The objective of this policy is to develop and offer training programmes for instructors and head instructors.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In-company trainer training may be offered by various parties, provided that it is recognised by the professional or employer organisations in charge (nationally referred to as sectoral assignees). In 2015, the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (the key player in this field) adopted its own regulation. In 2016, the Employer Council for Dual VET approved guidelines on training for trainers working with young people within the dual VET scheme. Guidelines for the training of those working...
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This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Legislators intended to speed up the implementation of dual VET by facilitating the recruitment of in-company trainers. Therefore, qualification requirements and initial training of in-company instructors were set as less stringent compared to qualification requirements and initial training of trainers employed by VET schools, as stipulated by the Act on Pedagogical Staff and Professional Staff (138/2019) and related decree (1/2020).
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
According to the 2015 Act on VET, in-company trainers should have certificates that are equivalent to, or of a higher level than, certificates offered to learners by programmes they are involved in. These certificates must be in the same or similar field of study. In-company trainers must also have at least three-year experience as fully qualified workers in the respective occupation, and they need to complete a specific initial training programme. This training addresses: learners' rights...
Bodies responsible
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Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Supporting teachers to better respond to the specific learning needs of disadvantaged learners is crucial. Especially regarding Roma learners, as they are facing challenges they were not prepared for within initial training. In-service training of teachers should prepare them to better adjust to disadvantaged learners' needs.
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What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
For a long time ESF projects have been crucial in promoting teachers' in-service training regarding assisting disadvantaged learners, including Roma. In 2017, the implementation of the ESF 'Open school for all' project gave a new impulse in this effort. The project aims to further strengthen professional competences of teachers and teacher assistants in the provision of inclusive education to Roma within mainstream general education, an important prerequisite for provision of subsequent...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Newly developed in-service training offered to pedagogues in schools should help them better understand requirements resulting from introducing dual VET.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
To familiarise VET teachers and trainers with dual VET, short credit-awarding courses were designed within the 2013-15 ESF project Development of secondary VET. The subsequent 2016-20 ESF project Dual education and increasing attractiveness and quality of VET also focuses on in-service training via three accredited programmes. The project aimed to train 600 members of pedagogical staff in curriculum issues, 200 directors of schools and other leading staff concerning the new role of schools...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2016 government manifesto also aimed at further changing the system of career development. It envisaged certification in line with professional standards for pedagogical staff and experts employed by regional schools. Implementation of the standards was a long-lasting and controversial process. The education ministry even hesitated to publish these standards. After some revisions these standards were finally published in 2017 despite doubts about their applicability. EUR 20 000 were...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The education ministry decided to abolish the limited validity of credits to prevent a fall in teacher incomes. This measure was considered as a temporary solution, as preparing new legislation introducing a new approach to CPD and in-service training already started.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The steps taken until 2018 focused on amending legislation and policy commitments for further continuing professional development (CPD) improvements. The newest and the most visible of such improvements is the abolition of the limited validity (seven years) of credits received within CPD. Staff can move from beginner to independent teacher status and then to attestation at first and second (advanced) level. Since the 2009 Pedagogical Staff Act, a wide range of in-service programmes/courses...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Increasing salaries is a crucial factor in making the teaching profession more attractive and preventing brain drain to other sectors of the economy.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Pay rises were awarded in 2016 and 2017 (4% plus a further 6%). As the government claimed that highly qualified teachers were key to the delivery of its education and training agenda, it announced further increases - in its 2016 manifesto - averaging 6% per year from 2018 Yet, such a move was still considered insufficient by staff representatives as teacher salaries would remain lower than 70% of the average salary of professionals with higher education qualifications. The increase in...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
To reduce the barriers for skilled practitioners to serve as VET teachers by making training in pedagogy more flexible.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2015 legislation amending the 2009 Pedagogical Staff Act made qualification requirements more flexible to attract (more) business and industry professionals to teaching and to facilitate changes of position or subject areas. Professionals teaching in occupation-oriented areas are not required to comply with qualification requirements in pedagogy provided they teach up to 10 hours per week (the responsibility for ensuring/assessing their teaching competences lies with school principals)....
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Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Examples of eligible activities within Don’t BE disQUALIFIED (NedisKVALIFIKUJ SA!) call include:
creating and carrying out programmes aiming to develop competences complying with labour market requirements including ICT and financial literacy;
supporting second chance programmes, enabling adults to complete lower secondary education;
supporting inclusive education activities for people with special educational needs;
supporting young people experiencing difficulties with their...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Don't BE disQUALIFIED (NedisKVALIFIKUJ SA!) is the motto of a 2016 call for projects launched by the education ministry, focusing on key competence development and enhancing/upgrading skills. Project topics include continuing VET. Applications exceeded by two times the available ESF co-funded budget of EUR 15 million. 144 projects have been in progress since 2018, but have been delayed due to administrative complications. In 2017, EUR 7 million were allocated to ESF projects focusing on the...
Bodies responsible
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Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Improving financial literacy of low-skilled members of the Roma community.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2017, the government updated and complemented the action plan of its strategy for integration of the Roma population. Financial inclusion was introduced as a priority. Financial literacy measures are supported by ESF-projects to prevent socially disadvantaged families from falling into excessive debts or becoming victims of usury. Putting stress on non-formal training is visible within social enterprises activities and training centres affiliated to social enterprises.
Bodies responsible
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Ministry of Interior
Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government for Roma Communities
The environment ministry initiated a new grant scheme (Green education fund) to support projects of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) promoting environmental education. This complements the scheme of the education ministry, which supports school projects. A new strategy paper on environmental education can harmonise efforts in this field.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Since October 2017, the Green education fund (GEF), managed by the Slovak Environment Agency and financed from the State budget and private companies, has been active in supporting environmental education. EUR 155 000 were earmarked for 28 NGO-projects at national (11) and regional (17) level. Grants of EUR 10 000 and EUR 5 000, respectively, with 5% joint financing by beneficiaries, supports the provision of class-ready materials and supporting actions (competitions, games, outdoor...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Slovak Environmental Agency
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation
Annual regulations for directors of schools and school establishments, and a special grant scheme of the education ministry, are targeting prevention of intolerance.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2016/17, in response to signs of increasing intolerance in the European Union, secondary education national curricula were supplemented by a document for teachers and counselling staff on how to prevent racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and extremism.
A review of national curricula and textbooks concerning human rights and democratic citizenship education was initiated by the Government Council of the Slovak Republic for human rights, national minorities and gender equity as of 2016. The...
Bodies responsible
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Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Government Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equity
Activities are aimed at improving financial and entrepreneurial skills. ESF-related projects are used to support the efforts of schools.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
A new national standard for financial literacy was approved in 2017. It replaces the 2014 standard and includes entrepreneurship competence. It also addresses areas like planning, income and labour; consumer protection; counteracting corruption and fraud through consumer financial responsibility; consumer decisions and financial management; loans and debts; savings and investment; risk management and insurance. The revision was based on the 2016 thematic assessment of learner performance in...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The calls for ESF demand-driven projects should encourage basic and secondary schools to start new activities resulting in improvement of performance in PISA domains.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2019, ESF-funded projects were launched aiming to improve learners' literacy, mathematics and science competences. They were also carried out in VET schools. The projects enrich school curricula, improve learning environments and offer afternoon activities aiming to improve performance in respective competences via non-formal and informal learning. Although still at their initial stage, the initiatives are already very positively assessed by practitioners including the Slovak Chamber of...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The strategy was created as a response to unfavourable PISA results. 21 specific goals were identified. The medium-term aim was to reach the average level of the OECD countries in PISA 2018 reading literacy.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2016, the education ministry submitted to the government a Strategy for enhancing the level and continuous development of reading literacy. The 2016/17 school year was declared 'year of reading literacy', accompanied by diverse activities, including competitions. The State School Inspectorate published a report on monitoring reading literacy in basic and secondary schools. A survey on a sample of 3 863 secondary learners was conducted in February 2017. Grammar school learners achieved...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
State School Inspectorate
National Institute for Certified Educational Measurements
Based on specific criteria, underdeveloped districts are entitled to additional support from the government (state budget and EU funds). Developing action plans for respective districts addressing unemployment and identifying relevant investment opportunities is a precondition for the intervention of the government. Some measures address VET as an instrument for improving the qualifications of those at risk of unemployment.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Five-year action plans were launched in 2016 to address unemployment in the most vulnerable districts. Training centres and regional education centres, i.e. secondary VET schools, in originally 12 and gradually 20 districts (out of 79), identified as underdeveloped, were partially funded by ESIF.
The training centres are meant to provide practice-oriented training for the disadvantaged unemployed or low-qualified. The regional education centres are expected to address the specific needs of...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Parliament of Slovakia
Government Council for Underdeveloped Districts
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for Investments and Informatisation
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation
The SKKR is expected to contribute to making the education and training system in Slovakia more flexible, while the qualification standards will be officially recognised. In addition to the three sub-frameworks corresponding to formal education and training, a fourth sub-framework driven by the labour market should be established. The SKKR will only be viable if this sub-framework is sustainably enriched.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The development of the SKKR has been a lengthy process. It progressed in parallel to the wider reform of VET and involved various stakeholders. Work on the SKKR and the national qualifications register (NQR) has been closely related: the description of qualifications, in terms of standards, forms the content of the register; their levelling is the content of the SKKR. Together with representatives of the sectoral council and other stakeholders, 1 000 qualifications, including standards, had...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Making education and qualification systems more flexible.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The so-called 'shortened studies' (ISCED 353) were put in place in 2015/16 in line with the Act on VET (61/2015). They target young people and adults who want to broaden or deepen their qualification or acquire another one to improve their employability. Based on the mainstream three-year programme, they focus on occupation-related areas and last either one or two years, depending on learners' previous field of study. Two-year studies lead to a certificate of apprenticeship; participants of...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
One of the objectives of this ESF project targets guidance and counselling of pupils and parents to support them during a decision on VET. An orientation centre and dual points should be instrumental for appropriate support. Here are some planned outcomes:
a model and methodology of dual point activities;
a manual in support of career guidance and counselling of basic school pupils and their parents in the process of entering dual VET;
a model and methodology of orientation centre;
a...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The ESF project Dual education and increasing attractiveness and quality of VET launched in 2016 and run by the State Institute of Vocational Education (ŠIOV) aims at improving career guidance and counselling services for learners in VET and those who may move into it. Within this project the operation of an orientation centre, located in Nitra, was piloted targeting lower secondary pupils, teachers and educational counsellors.
VET teachers and trainers were targeted by in-service training...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Enrich the public discourse on lifelong learning and skills development, learn from international experience in preparing a new lifelong learning strategy, a new act on lifelong learning, and in achieving coherence in future policies on skills development.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The education ministry has started an international project (with a budget of EUR 350 000) aimed at elaborating a National skills strategy for the Slovak Republic, in cooperation with the OECD. A launch conference was held on 29 January 2019 and a final OECD report is expected by the end of March 2020.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The objective of the policy was to create legal basis for an umbrella organisation to coordinate activities of professional and employer organisations with responsibility for respective fields of study ('sectoral assignees').
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
An umbrella body, the Employer Council for dual VET, was set up in 2016 aiming to strengthen cooperation between respective sectoral assignees involved in dual VET. The Council is partially financed from the State budget. The most important responsibility of the Council is to coordinate processes related to the accreditation of training companies based on their compliance with the requirements set by the State concerning space, training equipment and materials. Involving employers allows...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The objective of the national programme was to identify priorities for reforming the education system, including VET, and to quantify expenditures for respective measures.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
On 27 June 2018, the government approved the National programme for the development of education (NPDE). The NPDE was adopted, with 106 measures to be fulfilled until 2027. Some measures related to regional schooling and higher education are relevant also to VET. Measures directly aiming to align VET to labour market are as follows:
increasing the quality of dual VET through the funding of professional and employer organisations involved; they will receive approximately EUR 1 million...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
To describe measures addressing identified weaknesses or suggested improvements.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In September 2017, the education ministry published the Learning Slovakia strategy paper, following a public discussion on a draft version from March 2017. The VET-related chapter of this strategy paper for the first time in the official documents clearly defines and distinguishes between the diverse forms of work-based learning: dual VET, as set in the 2015 Act on VET; work-based learning within VET school-enterprise agreements but without individual learning contracts; short-term...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The ESF project Dual education and increasing attractiveness and quality of VET aims to support all dual system players: learners and parents by guidance, schools, and companies in facilitating partnerships.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2016-20 ESF project Dual education and increasing attractiveness and quality of VET provides support through its web portals. Eight contact points (officially called Dual points) have also been set up within this project. Their role is to support the implementation of the dual system and make the matching of supply and demand easier. The employer council maintains its own portal. The 2013-15 ESF project Development of secondary VET-related portal focused on matching supply and demand,...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The policy aims to attract VET students to sign an individual learning contract with a company.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Stimuli based on the 2015 VET Act are more comprehensive and generous than in the past, including:
performance-based State-funded motivation scholarships for learners trained for shortage occupations. These can equal to 25%, 45% and 65% of the national subsistence minimum;
company scholarships amounting up to four times the national subsistence minimum;
remuneration for productive work during training, between 50% and 100% of a minimum wage;
State scholarships for socially disadvantaged...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Various measures have been introduced to attract companies to enter dual VET. The newest, offering direct payments from the State budget, is aimed at also attracting the companies that are financially not strong enough.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
To encourage enterprise involvement in dual VET, the VET Act (61/2015) had introduced corporate tax reliefs for training companies:
tax exemption reducing training costs by 21%;
tax bonuses of EUR 1 600 for 200 hours of practical training and EUR 3 200 for 400 hours of practical training within a tax period;
remuneration for learners' productive work is exempted from levies.
These incentives did not apply to any other form of work-based learning (e.g. diverse school-company contracts...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The proposed incentives aim to support responsiveness of the VET system to labour market needs, especially in the regions.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In December 2016, a call was launched to invite proposals for the modernisation of the equipment and premises of school-based practical training (VET schools' workshops and specialised facilities, e.g. libraries). Additional components could relate to equipment for dormitories in support of inclusive education, reconstruction of school premises, or improving the energy performance of buildings. The call was launched within the framework of the ERDF part-funded Integrated regional operational...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
The main objective of the Slovak version of dual VET is to increase the share of in-company training based on individual contracts between learners and companies responsible for a practical component of VET. In contrast to other forms of work-based learning already in place, companies may adjust training to their needs within the curricular framework agreed with the VET school.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The Act on VET was amended in March 2015 (61/2015). Its main objectives were to introduce a dual VET scheme and tax incentives for enterprises to provide training. The reform entered into force in September 2015 and made available upper secondary VET delivery in three forms:
school-based programmes with practical training (mainly) in school workshops;
mixed scheme, with school-based learning along with in-company training within the framework of school-company agreements (contracts)...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
