Slovakia: what kind of intelligence is needed to master artificial intelligence?

Local response to the challenge

The application of AI in education is among the education minister’s stated political priorities, and this has helped to place the responsible use of AI high on Slovakia’s education policy agenda. A few weeks before the Bratislava AI Forum 2025, Slovakia unveiled a detailed strategy paper, ‘Artificial Intelligence in education: A plan for the responsible use of AI in education in Slovakia 2025-27’. The plan outlines five AI related initiatives:

• preparing learners for life with AI;
• ensuring equal access to quality AI tools for all learners and educators;
• supporting educators to cope with AI challenges;
• using AI to modernise governance in education;
• creating a supportive environment to make the education system sustainable, innovative, and ready to respond to technological change.

Measures already in place:

• A dedicated website provides information to schools, families, teachers, and learners about AI-related initiatives;
• 100 schools, selected through a competitive call, received grants of EUR 2 000 each to purchase AI-relevant tools and organise AI days. During these events, teachers learned and demonstrated how to use AI, discussed its benefits and drawbacks, and shared experiences.  The success of these events contributed to high activity in Computer Science Education Week 2025, with Slovakia ranking among the leaders in involving schools in the AI Hour during this international event. With 116 registered events, Slovakia was the second most active country, right behind the United States. This result highlights the positive impact of the state's systemic support in the field of artificial intelligence. It also justifies plans for financing the procurement and testing of proven AI tools as part of a pilot programme for AI vouchers as envisaged in the AI strategy (Sections 3.5 and 6.2), with funding of EUR 2.8 million from Programme Slovakia 2021-27.
• Two AI competence centres are going to be established from 2026 at the two largest technical universities, supported by law. According to the AI strategy, the centres are to support the modernisation of tertiary study programmes, including teacher training, the development of open educational resources and research in the field of AI. The activity is also proposed for financing from Programme Slovakia 2021-27 with an indicative allocation of EUR 15 million.

Key takeaways from the Bratislava AI Forum

High-level representatives from governments, international organisations, and technology leaders agreed that rapid advances in AI are reshaping not only economies but also the very fabric of societies. They stressed the need for coordinated policies and international approach to harness AI responsibly and equitably.

Education ministers noted that AI is transforming education faster than current education systems can respond. There is a profound change in the role of educators due to the risk of AI dominance and its effect on disadvantaged learners, especially. Sharing best practices is essential to support educators in addressing multifaceted problems. Ethics, safety, and responsible use of AI were identified as the most prominent challenges.

Participants discussed OECD tools such as the learning compass and teaching compass, highlighting the need to maintain and further develop the curiosity of learners. This is seen as a strong precondition to exploit AI to enhance human thinking, creativity and decision-making, rather than replacing human reasoning. This calls for the operationalisation of AI literacy in curricula, with an emphasis on training learners to ask and refine questions for effective communication with AI.

Read more

• Artificial Intelligence in education: A plan for the responsible use of AI in education in Slovakia 2025-27 (full version)
• Artificial Intelligence in education: A plan for the responsible use of AI in education in Slovakia 2025-27 (brief presentation)

OECD Global Forum on the future of education and skills, Bratislava, 24-26 November 2025