• Preschool attendance is compulsory from ages 5 to 6.
• School attendance is compulsory from ages 6 to 16.
• Students don‘t wear school uniforms.
• Education at state schools is free.
• Students are evaluated by marks on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 representing the best mark/5 representing the worst mark).

Education in our country includes:

• NURSERY SCHOOLS/ KINDERGARTENS  (from ages 3 to 5)
• PRESCHOOL EDUCATION (from ages 5 to 6)
• PRIMARY SCHOOLS (from ages 6 to 15)
• SECONDARY SCHOOLS (from ages 15 to 19)

KINDERGARTEN / NURSERY SCHOOLS
from ages 3 to 5

Children at the age of three usually go to kindergarten/nursery school where they play, learn social rules, ethics, and how to behave. Attendance is not compulsory.

PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION
from ages 5 to 6

Children at the age of five are educated at pre-schools. They learn the principles of the alphabet and mathematics in preparation for later school.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
from ages 6 to 15

• Children between 6 and 15 attend primary schools. This nine-year school attendance is compulsory. 
• The school year begins in September and ends in late June. 
• Children gradually learn to read, write and count. 
• There are two terms in a school year. Each term has five months. 
• The school day is divided into 5 to 7 lessons in different subjects with several breaks. 
• The main subjects are: Mother tongue and Maths. Other subjects are: Chemistry, History, Geography, Science, Computer Studies and languages.
• At the end of each school year, pupils get a school report (a certificate). 
• Pupils have a two-month summer holiday, Christmas holidays, Easter holidays, spring holidays, and a few national holidays/ bank holidays.

SECONDARY EDUCATION
from ages 15 to 19

Secondary studies last for four years. We can choose from different kinds of secondary
schools such as:

Vocational Schools

These give students the skills needed for a particular job. Students are taught special subjects such as typing, accounting, engineering, technical drawing.

We recognize different kinds of vocational schools according to their orientation:

1. Secondary technical school
2. Business School
3. Nursing secondary school
4. Hotel secondary school
5. Art secondary school and many others

Grammar Schools

These are also called comprehensive schools. They prepare students for university studies.

Special Needs Schools

These schools are for children with physical disabilities, for deaf children, for children with eyesight disorders or learning issues.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from the age of 19

• This is the highest form of education.
• This education usually lasts from 5 to 6 years. 
• We can do a degree (a term of study at university) in different fields.
• Slovak universities use a two-semester/term system: winter and summer semester  

We have three levels of university studies:

1. Bachelor’s degree (Bc.)
   The 1st degree  is the  Bachelor’s degree (Bc.) – it is the lowest level of university studies, and the course lasts for three years.
2. Master‘s degree (Mgr.)
   The 2nd degree is the Master’s degree (Mgr.) after humanistic studies or the degree
   of Engineer (Ing.) after technical studies, but they are equal.
3. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
   The 3rd degree and at the same time the highest level of university education is a PhD. (a doctor of philosophy)

If you are a university student, you have to:

• spend a lot of time self-studying 
• take part in lots of seminars and lectures 
• take loads of notes
• read widely
• write lots of essays
• take exams

QUESTION TIME
Part 1

1. What types of compulsory education are there in Slovakia?
2. Name at least three types of vocational schools.
3. How do we call schools that are for children with physical or mental disabilities?
4. How do teachers evaluate students in Slovak schools?
5. How do we say ‚Gymnázium‘ in English?
6. What type of education is the highest?
7. Name three levels of university studies.
8. Name university students’ duties.