Eurydice

Pupil/students assessment

Types of institutions

Upper secondary schools offer only one programme (less often and typical for larger cities) or several programmes of an equal or different difficulty degree to embrace the wider educational interest in each geographical area.

Basic schools in ethnically mixed areas

In the Italian national community area, basic school education may be provided in two ways: the language of instruction can be Slovenian, and pupils learn Italian; or the language of instruction is Italian, and pupils learn Slovenian.
In areas with the Hungarian national community, bilingual education is provided in basic schools, with lessons delivered simultaneously in Slovenian and Hungarian.

Compulsory basic education in Slovenia is organised as integrated primary and lower secondary education, i.e. as a single structure nine-year basic school. It is attended by children aged six to fifteen.

Funding

Short-cycle higher education

The Organisation and Financing of Education Act and the Rules on norms for financing higher vocational colleges specify the funding of higher vocational colleges (HVCs). Funding sources and relevant basic rules are consistent with those that apply to upper secondary schools.

Key features of the education system

Public schools provide primary and secondary education free of charge. Higher education is free for full-time students as well, providing that they do not exceed the standard length of study. Private and church schools may charge for education provided.  

2026

Second-chance education 

In October 2025, an amendment to the Act No. 245/2008 Coll. on education and training (Zákon č. 245/2008 Z.z. o výchove a vzdelávaní) was approved, which regulates the second-chance education possibilities and conditions, i.e., obtaining primary or lower secondary education. The amendment describes the following possibilities:  

2026

New higher education Act

In October 2025, the Slovak Parliament approved a new Higher Education Act (Act No. 300/2025 Coll.), which introduces changes giving higher education institutions greater autonomy, increasing their global competitiveness, and enabling them to respond more effectively to the needs of the 21st-century labour market. The new law will enter into force on 1 September 2026. 

2026

National project ‘Regional Implementation of School Catchment Areas’