On 30 October 2024, the Slovak Parliament approved important legislative changes. As a result, from the academic year 2025/2026 onwards, all refugee children aged 5-16 years, including children with Temporary Protection (TP) status (“odídenec” / “dočasné útočisko”) in Slovakia, will be required to attend: • Kindergartens in Slovakia (children who will have reached the age of 5 by 31 August), • Primary schools in Slovakia (children who will have reached the age of 6 by 31 August), and • Secondary schools in Slovakia.
It is important to be aware of the following enrolment periods for the different education levels.
Secondary schools (with or without talent assessments): applications must be submitted to the schools by 20 February and entrance examinations will take place in March, April and May.
Primary schools: enrolment will take place between between 1 April and 30 April (exact dates determined by individual schools).
Kindergartens: enrolment will take place between 1 May and 31 May (exact dates determined by individual kindergartens).
If you would like to request support from the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic for enrolling your child/children (aged 3-17 years) in a Slovak kindergarten, school, language course or extra-curricular activities, please fill out this online form.
Please note that if you request support for enrolment, you will be asked to consent with your data being shared with the MoE, as well as with other appropriate entities, for the purpose of capacity planning and assistance with placement in schools, language courses and extra-curricular activities. Regional coordinators of the National Institute of Education and Youth (NIVAM) will be matching the different requests with schools in the relevant locations. Once available spots are identified and confirmed, the coordinators will contact families and pair them with the identified schools.
If you would like to share your feedback with us and/or report any problem, concern, complaint, or issue you faced as a refugee, asylum-seeker or a stateless person in Slovakia with regard to access to education and enrolment in Slovak schools, please fill out UNHCR’s Feedback & Complaint Form.