In 2000, the European Commission drafted the Memorandum on Lifelong Learning, and since then, lifelong learning—as a fundamental principle applied in education and training systems—has also been a priority in the Slovak Republic. The text of the Memorandum on Lifelong Learning was followed in 2004 by the Concept of Lifelong Learning in the Slovak Republic (Koncepcia celoživotného vzdelávania v Slovenskej republike), which placed the individual objectives of the memorandum within the context of the Slovak Republic’s existing strategic documents focusing on education and employment. 

The Strategy for Lifelong Learning 2011 (Stratégia celoživotného vzdelávania 2011) also addressed the lifelong learning system in Slovakia from a strategic perspective, with the aim of supporting the creation of conditions for the transition to a functioning system of lifelong learning for everyone.

During the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2016, a significant strategic initiative of the European Commission—the New Skills Agenda for Europe—was adopted in the field of adult education and vocational training. The Recommendation Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults is key for Slovakia, particularly given the relatively high proportion of long-term unemployed adults with low skill levels. In 2018, Slovakia signed the Manifesto on Adult Learning in the 21st Century.

The most significant tool for supporting lifelong learning is the Strategy for Lifelong Learning and Guidance for 2021–2030, adopted in November 2021. The strategy aims to ensure that every citizen has lifelong access to opportunities to learn and develop their skills and competencies, taking into account individual needs and circumstances, so that everyone can realize their potential in their personal, professional, and civic lives. Its main task is to respond to the dynamically changing labour market through specific measures.  

Following the adoption of the document, the individual objectives of the Strategy and the corresponding measures are elaborated in detail into action plans. The action plans are divided into three three-year periods. The first action plan for the Strategy for Lifelong Learning for 2021–2030 was implemented during 2022–2024, the second action plan for 2025–2027 is currently being implemented, and the third action plan is to be implemented in 2028–2030.

The Action Plan for the Strategy for Lifelong Learning for 2025–2027 (Akčný plán k Stratégii celoživotného vzdelávania na roky 2025-2027) focuses on thirteen thematic areas and includes specific measures that will contribute to achieving the objectives of the Strategy for Lifelong Learning and Guidance. The measures are primarily aimed at measuring the implementation of specific activities, such as the development of legislative proposals, methodological materials, analyses, and strategic documents. They also address the creation and innovation of educational programmes, the introduction of digital tools and educational support systems, as well as the development of career guidance and cooperation between educational institutions and employers.

The Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic is an active member of the Pact for Basic Skills in Slovakia at the European level. The pact aims to raise the level of basic competencies among the population, promote lifelong learning, improve employability, and strengthen cooperation between the state, educational institutions, and employers.

On October 2, 2024, the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic announced a demand-driven call for proposals titled Development of Basic Skills for Adults – A Path to Inclusion and Employability (Rozvoj základných zručností dospelých – cesta k inklúzii a zamestnateľnosti). The aim of the call is to support adults with low levels of education in the areas of reading literacy, mathematical skills, and basic digital competencies, thereby enhancing their employability in the labour market. 

Priorities (including) in the field of adult education are represented by the National Skills Strategy ( Národná stratégia zručností), which was developed in collaboration with the OECD during 2019 and published in early 2020. Its four priority areas are:

• Strengthening the skills of young people
• Promoting greater participation in adult education 
• Reducing skills mismatches 
• Strengthening the use of skills in the workplace.

The latest results of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) serve as a key source of information for designing new policies and setting national and regional priorities in the field of adult education. They represent a valuable and representative source of information on the current situation regarding key competencies among the Slovak population, as well as Slovakia’s standing among the other participating countries. The results from the perspective of the Slovak Republic are published in the Final Report.

The topic of adult education is also elaborated upon within the framework of sub-objectives in other strategic documents. The most comprehensive strategic document for the development of education—the Recovery and Resilience Plan—covers reforms in the field of adult education under Component 17: Digital Slovakia, which includes two objectives: 

• Improving seniors’ access to government digital services, enhancing their digital skills, and removing barriers to social exclusion through modern applications. 
• Effective and systematic training (lifelong learning) of professional staff in the field of cybersecurity within the public administration sector.

The National Strategy for Research, Development, and Innovation 2030 (Národná stratégia výskumu, vývoja a inovácií 2030) for lifelong learning  aims to create programmes that motivate citizens to engage in lifelong learning in strategically important skills that are currently in short supply or will be in the future. The policy’s goal is to significantly increase the number of citizens who develop their skills for work in the knowledge economy. 

Specific measures are elaborated in the National Programme for Active Ageing for 2021–2030 (Národný program aktívneho starnutia na roky 2021 – 2030), which sets out tasks aimed at creating conditions for the implementation of selected age management measures and their gradual introduction in businesses and organizations across the entire national economy. 

The Slovak Digital Transformation Strategy 2030 (Stratégia digitálnej transformácie Slovenska 2030) is a interdepartmental government framework strategy that defines Slovakia’s policy and specific priorities in the context of the ongoing digital transformation of the economy and society under the influence of innovative technologies and global megatrends of the digital age. 

The National Digital Skills Strategy of the Slovak Republic (Národná stratégia digitálnych zručností Slovenskej republiky) and its Action Plan for 2023–2026 focus on raising the level of digital skills among the population and supporting the digital transformation of society.