Regional education of children and pupils of foreigners
 
Access to the educational system in regional education (ie preschool, primary, secondary schools, including special education) is regulated under Art. 27 Par. 1 of the Directive no. 2011/95 /EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, which means that the law in the Slovak Republic treats access to education of children of foreign citizens under the same conditions as the children of nationals.
The education of children of foreigners in regional education is legally ensured by Act no. 245/2008 Coll. on education and training (the Education Act) and on the amendment and supplementation of some laws as amended (§146) with effect from 1 September 2008.
The children of foreign citizens authorized to stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic, children of asylum seekers and Slovaks living abroad are provided with education and training, accommodation and meals in schools under the Education Act, applying the same conditions as citizens of the Slovak Republic. For children of foreigners, basic and expanding language courses of the state language can be organized to remove language barriers.
The subsequent amendment is in Act no. 596/2003 Coll. on state administration in education and school self-government and on amendments and supplements to some laws as amended. According to § 10 par. 12 departments of education of district offices at the corresponding region in cooperation with local authorities organize and financially provide language courses for children of foreigners authorized to stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
In practice, this is done in a way that, in the first place, the child's legal guardian in the case of a kindergartener may, and in the case of pupil at the age of compulsory school attendance has to enroll the child in school. As far as the unaccompanied minor is concerned, then the competent authority for social protection of children is in charge, until the court has appointed a guardian.
Compulsory school attendance is addressed by § 19, part 1 and 2 of the Education Act. Compulsory school attendance in the Slovak Republic is ten years and lasts until the end of the school year in which the pupil reaches the age of 16, unless the law stipulates otherwise.
The school principle, after finding out the level of the child's previous education as well as its capability of use of the state language, at the latest within three months of the start of the asylum procedure, etc. will place the pupil in the appropriate grade. If the child is not capable to use the state language on appropriate level, the child can be placed in the grade according to its age, for a maximum of one school year.
Subsequently, the headmaster of the school, if necessary, will provide a pedagogical employee to provide the pupil with a language course of the Slovak language. At the same time, the headmaster of the school will ask the relevant department of education in the region for funds.