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Education in Slovakia

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Education in Slovakia is currently ranked as having one of the best in the world up to the secondary level. Currently, Slovakia’s secondary education system is ranked as Number 30 in the world, next to the United States. 99% percent of the citizens of Slovakia aged 15 and above can read and write. Literacy rate among Slovakians is among the highest in the world because the government imposes to all citizens to attend school for at least nine years. Elementary education is only 4 years while secondary education is 8 years. Compulsory education is only up to the 4th year of the secondary level and after that, the student may pursue a job or pursue higher studies.

Being compulsory, that means the government is shouldering the costs of education, and in fact, education expenditures have amounted to 3.9% of total GDP from 2005 figures which ranks Slovakia 111th in the world in terms of expenditure but then again Slovakians belonging to the age group of 0-14 roughly totals about 900,000 only and so the government is really actually spending a lot in its drive to educate the masses and making sure they get quality education. In fact ratio of students per teacher is at 20 students per 1 teacher.

In 2006, Slovakia has registered 8.9% increase in GDP, one of the highest in Europe and appears to be sustaining the growth. This growth has been attributed to the high literacy rate of the region attracting unprecedented foreign investments. As evidenced by its bustling economy, the government is truly to be applauded for investing in the education of its citizenry.

With all the economic barometers giving positive results to better things to come, and as a testimony to Slovakia’s economic miracle, the country has now an aid provider status.