🏫 Compulsory School Attendance for Refugee Children with Temporary Protection Status in Slovakia
On 30 October 2024, the Slovak Parliament approved important legislative changes. As a result, from the academic year 2025/2026 onwards, all refugee children aged 5-16 years, including children with Temporary Protection (TP) status (“odídenec” / “dočasné útočisko”) in Slovakia, will be required to attend:
• Kindergartens in Slovakia (children who will have reached the age of 5 by 31 August),
• Primary schools in Slovakia (children who will have reached the age of 6 by 31 August), and
• Secondary schools in Slovakia.
Changes effective as of 1 January 2025:
🗓 If a child was granted TP (or the procedure for granting TP has been initiated*) before 31 December 2024: the parent or legal guardian is obliged to take all necessary actions for the child to attend kindergarten, primary school, or secondary school as of 1 September 2025.
🗓 If a child was granted TP (or the procedure for granting TP has been initiated*) between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2025: the parent or legal guardian is obliged to request enrollment of the child in kindergarten, primary school, or secondary school no later than 1 December 2025.
Changes effective as of 1 September 2025:
🗓 If a child was granted TP (or the procedure for granting TP has been initiated*) after 1 September 2025: the parent or legal guardian is obliged to request enrollment of the child in kindergarten, primary school, or secondary school within three months following the initiation of the procedure for granting TP*.
*The procedure for granting TP initiates with the in-person submission of an application at the Foreign Police ("Cudzinecká polícia") department. For that, you first need an appointment scheduled in advance through the booking system.
More information can be found on these websites:
🌐 Ministry of Education
🌐 National Institute of Education and Youth
Please share this information in your communities.
@UNHCR_Slovakia
On 30 October 2024, the Slovak Parliament approved important legislative changes. As a result, from the academic year 2025/2026 onwards, all refugee children aged 5-16 years, including children with Temporary Protection (TP) status (“odídenec” / “dočasné útočisko”) in Slovakia, will be required to attend:
• Kindergartens in Slovakia (children who will have reached the age of 5 by 31 August),
• Primary schools in Slovakia (children who will have reached the age of 6 by 31 August), and
• Secondary schools in Slovakia.
Changes effective as of 1 January 2025:
🗓 If a child was granted TP (or the procedure for granting TP has been initiated*) before 31 December 2024: the parent or legal guardian is obliged to take all necessary actions for the child to attend kindergarten, primary school, or secondary school as of 1 September 2025.
🗓 If a child was granted TP (or the procedure for granting TP has been initiated*) between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2025: the parent or legal guardian is obliged to request enrollment of the child in kindergarten, primary school, or secondary school no later than 1 December 2025.
Changes effective as of 1 September 2025:
🗓 If a child was granted TP (or the procedure for granting TP has been initiated*) after 1 September 2025: the parent or legal guardian is obliged to request enrollment of the child in kindergarten, primary school, or secondary school within three months following the initiation of the procedure for granting TP*.
*The procedure for granting TP initiates with the in-person submission of an application at the Foreign Police ("Cudzinecká polícia") department. For that, you first need an appointment scheduled in advance through the booking system.
More information can be found on these websites:
🌐 Ministry of Education
🌐 National Institute of Education and Youth
Please share this information in your communities.
@UNHCR_Slovakia
