EDUCATION

1. Why is education important?

Good education is important for a successful career. It provides students with a wide range of different skills and qualifications which they wil need for their future job.

2. How can schools be divided?

Schools in Slovakia can be divided into state, clerical and private schools. State schools are free of charge, it means students don´t pay for their education. Students at private schools have to pay tuition.

From another point of view, education can be divided into pre-school education, elementary or primary, secondary and tertial education. Each of them offers teaching specific skills.

3. What is pre-school education?

Education starts in a nursery school. Children from the age of 2 to 6 attend the kindergartens where they are taught basic knowledge by playing various games.

4. What do primary schools offer?

In Slovakia school attendance is compulsory from the age of 6 to 16. Primary education provides basic knowledge for the pupils and it lasts for nine years. It includes subjects such as Slovak, English, German or French language, Maths, Physics, History, Geography, Biology, Music, Physical Education, Arts, Informational Technology..

5. What does the system of secondary education consist of?

The system of secondary education consists of several types of schools. There are vocational schools, which prepare students for different kinds of jobs, technical schools, secondary business schools, medical schools and grammar schools where students are prepared for their future studies at universities. The study lasts either 3 years and finishes with getting a skill certificate or 4 years which ends with school-leaving exams called maturita.

6. What options do young have after finishing secondary education?

After finishing a secondary school, one can continue studying at any of the technical, economic, medicine, natural science or other types of university or college. It is possible to choose Bachelor or Diploma study.  Students usually have to pass entrance exams and if they are successful, they become university students. Studies at university end with state examinations and so-called defence of a thesis.

Those who don´t want to continue in their studies can apply for a job and start their career.

7. How is the school year in Slovakia organised? How are students evaluated?

The school year starts on the 1st of September and finishes on the last of June. It consists of two terms. Students are evaluated for the first term in January and they get a half-term school report. In June they finish the class with the final evaluation and final school report. They are marked, the best mark is 1 and the worst is 5. If one gets mark 5 at the end of the school year, he takes  another exam in August.

The lessons in Slovakia start at 7.50 or 8 o´clock and usually finish at about 2 in the afternoon. Students have lessons which last 45 minutes, they usually have 6 or 7 lessons a day with some breaks. If students wish, they can have luch at a school canteen. After school they can join various extra-curricular activities, different clubs and sport teams.

8. What qualifications and certificates can students get after finishing their studies at our school?

After promoting from our school I will have Maturita certificate and I will also achieve skill certificate. I will have qualifications for working in a hotel/restaurant as a manager/ waitress/waiter/cook/receptionist...

9. Our school:

I attend the Secondary Vocational School of Business and Services. It´s a state and mixed school. My course is called Hotel Academy. My studies last for 5 years. I study two foreign languages- English and German. Apart from that I study Slovak, Maths, Geography, Marketing, IT, Typing, Economics and Book-keeping. All subjects are compulsory. We don´t have to wear a uniform.

My lessons start at 7.50 and finish at 2 in the afternoon. Each lesson lasts 45 minutes.

In the fifth year of my studies I´ll take the final exam called „Maturita“. Except for that I will also achieve skill certificate. I will have qualifications for working in a hotel/restaurant as a manager, waitress/waiter, cook or receptionist.

During the studies our students can go to Greece for a practical training.