The year 2026 will mark a turning point for Slovak education as the country begins implementing its largest education reform in the past 20 years, Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (HLAS) said on Wednesday.
The reform, approved by the government and parliament last year, introduces a comprehensive set of laws covering all levels of education, from pre-primary to higher education. According to Drucker, its aim is to improve educational opportunities for children, strengthen the Slovak economy and ensure that legislative changes are effectively implemented in practice.
A key pillar of the reform is equal access to education from an early age. The gradual expansion of compulsory pre-primary education is intended to reduce inequalities before children enter primary school and to guarantee access to nursery schools.
The reform also modernises secondary schools and universities. Planned changes include a mandatory two-level school-leaving exam from 2027, stronger vocational education through centres of excellence, and a modern legal framework for universities with less administrative burden, compulsory PhD schools and a closer link between education and practice.
Further measures focus on school safety, addressing teacher shortages, accelerating certification processes and providing legal protection for the mental health of teachers and students. Digitalisation is expected to reduce bureaucracy through a unified e-application platform.
Among the ministry’s priorities for 2026 are full implementation of curricular reform in primary schools, preparation of changes for secondary education, responsible use of artificial intelligence, and optimisation of the primary school network.
Source: TASR
