MODERNISATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ EDUCATION

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In the last decades we can see parents with pre-school and school-age children complaining all the time about the functioning of the school system. Have you ever wondered whether the National Council of the Slovak Republic plans to change the current legislation in this period and what steps it will take?

We have great news that will please not only the school obliged. Recently, an amendment to Act No. 245/2008 Coll. on education and education and on amendment and supplementation of certain acts, which you may also know under the name "School Act", has been in preparation. The amendment in question was approved by the deputies of the National Council of the Slovak Republic on 09th of May 2023 and thus brings us reform elements in this area. The amendment reflects cooperation with the European Commission and schools, local governments, trade union organisations and the National Implementation and Coordination Authority. The elements that are incorporated in the amendment to the law can be characterised as a system of support measures relating to education and training, or we can also talk about the creation of the position of supervisor in schools, or the entitlement to pre-primary education.

Until the current legislation in force, special educational needs were granted only to a certain group of people, namely children and pupils with disabilities, from socially disadvantaged backgrounds or with a giftedness. The present amendment to the Education Act aims to broaden these groups, which could reflect a certain increase in the needs of certain pupils. In particular, we can mention, for example, difficulties in a child's development, namely in cognitive, linguistic, emotional abilities or skills. The new regulation also takes into account gifted pupils, for whom the new system should ensure the development of their personal potential. The special development and creativity of such gifted pupils is taken into account.

Other innovations of the law include, the aforementioned superintendent, while its introduction will create middle management in schools. In practical terms, this means that the school management will be authorised to authorise such a person in writing to carry out management activities, which are limited to between one and five hours. In doing so, the supervisor will be entitled to a personal allowance equivalent to that of a class teacher.

Another novelty of the law is the right to be admitted to kindergartens, which will at least partially relieve parents of children so that they can work to their full potential without staying at home with their children. This modification was in response to the demands of many parents who wanted to ensure access to quality, but above all affordable, pre-primary education. But what does this mean in the current situation? The earliest such changes to the law will apply to four-year-olds will be in the 2024/2025 school year and to three-year-olds in the 2025/2026 school year.

Finally, we would like to give you a practical example that may arise in the future. If a parent who has a child aged three were to express an interest in a place in a particular nursery in the school year 2024/2025, the following would happen: the first place offered would be in a catchment nursery. However, if a place was not available, the regional education authority would contact other nurseries in the vicinity. Subsequently, if such a range of nurseries offered was not suitable according to the parents, new classes could be created with full financial support if there were a certain number of such dissatisfied parents. We believe that this move is an excellent development and will help to ensure that the school system functions more optimally.