At its meeting on 8 December 2021, the Government of the Slovak Republic approved the Strategy on inclusive approach in education submitted by the Ministry of Education. This Strategy has been developed based on the Programme of the Government of the Slovak Republic 2021 – 2024: Area of Equal Opportunities in Education. 

This Strategy is drafted in accordance to the principles of creation public strategies by involving the main actors and stakeholders in the process. It is a framework strategic document that sets out the direction of public policies to bring change in the education of pupils and students towards inclusive education. 

The long-term goal is to create an environment conducive to inclusive education, motivating schools to become inclusive institutions. In this context, the draft document outlines the basic philosophy of a pro-inclusive education system, aiming at providing education to all children (pupils and students without distinction), respecting the uniqueness and diversity of each individual and enabling him/her to fulfil his/her potential to the fullest extent.

The Strategy is divided into six priority areas for the long-term development of an inclusive approach in education, then further elaborated into objectives on which the First Action Plan for the period 2022 – 2024 will be based. The Strategy is linked to other existing policy-plans of the Ministry of Education, such as Zero Action Plan and the National programme for the development of education and training – component 6 of the Renewal and Resilience Plan.  Being a draft document, it is intended to be complemented with the results of the implementation monitoring process in order to include this in the Action Plan.

The impact of the Strategy on the public administration budget is still not quantified.  The comprehensive assessment will be made at the level of the specific action plans for individual priority-areas and strategic objectives.  The adoption of the First Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy is expected by the end of March 2022.

Source: Eurydice Unit Slovakia