Vocational education and training in Slovakia
The Slovak economy is largely driven by manufacturing and could benefit from more diversification to make it less sensitive to economic shocks, encouraging innovation. Vocational education and training (VET) has traditionally played a strong role, responsible for around two-thirds of graduates at upper secondary level. But qualifications do not always match labour market needs. A ‘dual’ VET scheme was introduced in 2015/16 as one way to address mismatch. First results show greater involvement of employers in VET: it is now in their interest to attract learners and to deliver job-relevant training. The government also intends to promote VET at higher levels to make it more attractive. This publication aims to contribute to better understanding of VET in Slovakia, providing an insight into its main features and highlighting recent VET policy developments.