Slovakia’s new Adult Education Act aims to enhance adult education by introducing micro-credentials, individual learning accounts, and professional qualification frameworks, as well as training centres at secondary vocational schools. These reforms promote non-formal education, recognition of prior learning, and employability. 

A new law on adult education came into effect in January 2025. It introduced changes that aim to establish an efficient adult education system promoting non-formal education and an individualised approach to learning. The act regulates the Slovak Qualifications Framework and the National Qualifications System, the certification of educational institutions, the accreditation of educational programmes, the system for verifying educational outcomes, and individual learning accounts.  

Organisations certified by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth will be authorized to offer educational programmes through which participants can earn so-called micro-credentials. Micro-credentials certify the learning outcomes of short-term learning experiences and target individuals who need to develop their knowledge, skills, and competencies without the necessity of completing full secondary or higher education.  

The Act also introduces an individualised support tool for adult education, the so-called individual learning account. This account is intended to boost adults’ motivation to participate in education and can only be used in certified educational institutions. Funds in such an account will enable adults to pursue education in basic skills, key competencies, or hobby-related learning, as well as to access career counselling services for adults.  

To make the system of recognised qualifications in Slovakia more comprehensive, the new law has introduced additional measures: It introduces new systemic elements for recognising qualifications based on knowledge, skills, and competencies gained through practice. Furthermore, it introduces the concept of professional qualification, replacing the outdated system of partial and full qualifications.  

The changes also include the establishment of training centres at secondary vocational schools. In cooperation with secondary schools and employers, the Ministry aims to create ten to twelve such centres. These centres will help individuals acquire primarily vocational skills. They are intended for people who lack lower secondary education, be it due to health, family, or other reasons, or who have been out of the education system for an extended period.