The education system also includes the non-state schools (private and church ones). The founders of the private schools are physical or legal entities. Founders of church school can be state-acknowledged churches or religious societies.

The aim of the church and private school and school facility, in addition to the high-quality education and training, is 

• to provide an alternative content of education and training,
• to apply new methods and forms in education and training, as well as
• to fill-in the right of parents of choosing the school and educational facility for their children according to their denomination.

The emergence of church and private schools and school facilities after 1990 also created the space necessary for competitive environment within the framework of the entire system of schools and school facilities.

Pre-primary, primary and secondary education

Education obtained at private and church schools registered in the network of schools and school facilities in the Slovak Republic is equal to education obtained at public schools. It can be provided against payment.

Non-state school in Slovakia are obliged to conform to: 

• The current school legislation and 
• Educational programmes defined by the state (curriculum).

Non-state schools are co-financed by the state – they receive the same amount of finances from the state budget as state schools (normative funding per pupil – see chapter  Early Childhood and School Education Funding). 

All non-state schools in the network of schools and school facilities in the Slovak Republic are subject to regular evaluation and inspection by the State school inspection (see chapter Quality Assurance in Early Childhood and School Education).

In 1994 the Association of Workers of Private Schools (SK) came into existence as a natural result of preceding unofficial meetings of the headteachers and founders of private schools.

The main aims of the Association are

• to encourage the establishment and development of private schools and school facilities,
• to present and push forward the ideas of the Association to the administrative bodies in the area of the education system as well as other institutions and general public,
• to publicise the existence of private schools and develop foreign relations with similar organisations. 

The specificities on organisation and management of Roman Catholic schools and school facilities established by the Catholic church are defined by the Treaty No. 394/2004 Law Code between the Slovak Republic and the Holy See on Catholic education and training. The status, organisation and activity of the other church schools established by other registered churches and religious associations is equally fixed by the Agreement No. 395/2004 between the Slovak Republic and registered churches and religious societies on religious education. 

The private gymnasium give the chance to receive international maturita - International baccalaureate. 

The International Baccalaureate Programme is completed by secondary-school-leaving tests. The IB students’ examinations are externally set and assessed by an examination centre in Cardiff (Great Britain) and therefore they are  also recognized in foreign higher education institutions. According to the Education Law  the secondary school-leaving examination of this type is considered as equivalent to the secondary school-leaving examination in the national programme. The IB diploma is accepted by foreign higher education institutions. 

Higher education 

The Act on higher education sets down that a private higher education institution is acknowledged the right to act in the form of a State consent which is granted by Government. The first such institution – the City University of Seattle - was established in 2001. 

Currently, there are 13 private higher education institutions in Slovakia. The list of private higher education institutions can be accessed at Institution: Private higher education institutions.

Foreign higher education institutions active in Slovakia: 

• Banking Institute/College of Banking, a. s. (seat in Czech Republic) 
• Institute of Hospitality Management in Prague 8, spol. s r. o. (seat in Czech Republic) 
• College of International and Public Relations Prague, o p s (seat in Czech Republic) 
• Palacký University in Olomouc (seat in Czech Republic) 

As for the implementation of education in private universities there are no differences between public and private higher education sectors. 

Legislative references

National Council of the Slovak Republic, 2002. Act No. 131/2002 on higher education and on the change and supplement to some acts as amended by subsequent provision (Zákon č. 131/2002 Z.z. o vysokých školách a zmene a doplnení niektorých zákonov) (last accessed 07/01/2020).

National Council of the Slovak Republic, 2008. Act No. 245/2008 on education and training (Education Act) and on the change and supplement to some acts as amended by subsequent provisions (Zákon č. 245/2008 Z.z. o výchove a vzdelávaní (školský zákon) a o zmene a doplnení niektorých zákonov v znení neskorších predpisov) (last accessed 03/01/2020).