Education in Slovakia

Slovakia has a free education system based on 10 years of compulsory school attendance.

School system is divided into:

• first grade of primary school- age 6 to 10, works as platform for next studies
• second grade of primary school- age 10 to 15, after first grade students can apply on 8 years long high school, or continue in additional 5 years long second grade of primary school.
• 8-years long high school studies- age 10 to 18, if student succesfully manage to get to this programme, he can get higher level of education, finishing in graduation
• 4-years long high school studies- age 15 to 19, students that successfully finished theirs second grade of primary school can apply for 4 years long high school studies. This is also higher and more general curicullum.
• middle technical, industry or art school- age 15 to 19, not so skillful students from second grade of primary school often go to middle schools. This schools don't have to offer high school diploma.

Since around 1990, Slovakia has had some serious problems with financing education in general. Lack of money causes that teachers are often not very professional, since they have really low salaries compared to other professions,but also in absolute figures (average month salary is something about 12 000 SKK, i.e.app.$340 / €300 or $4100 / €3600 per year).

Besides that Slovakia has somehow very high level of educated individuals. Some high schools are specialized in math or programming, for example Gamca or GJH.