1. What needs to be prepared by an EU citizen before they ‘start dealing with authorities’ (tools, documents, documentation, certificates, etc.) and where can they find/obtain this?

Study at a primary art school

Primary art schools organise preparatory courses, primary courses, courses with an extended number of lessons, condensed courses, and courses for adults.

Courses can be individual or collective. The number of students in individual classes depend on the curriculum.

The director admits students to preparatory courses based on evaluation of their prerequisites for studying in the chosen arts discipline. After completing the preparatory course, students are not automatically entitled to continue in a primary course.

The director admits students to primary courses, condensed courses and adult courses based on the results of talent assessment, and may also admit talented students below the age recommended in the curriculum of an arts discipline or field of study.

To assess the study prerequisites of applicants, the director will set up a three-member board of admissions and appoint its members.

Based on the recommendation of the board of admissions, applicants older than the recommended age for the course may be placed in a grade higher than the first grade.

Upon a class teacher’s proposal, the director will include in the extended course students who have passed the board exam.

Levels of arts education attainment and evidence of education

Pupils attain primary art education by successfully completing the educational program of the Department of Education in primary art school. Primary art education is classified as:

• primary art education, which pupils attain by successfully completing the last grade of the study programme for the first part of the first level of primary art studies; the evidence of educational attainment is a school report with a supplement,
• lower secondary art education, which pupils attain by successfully completing the last grade of the study programme for the second part of the first level of primary art studies; the evidence of educational attainment is a school report with a supplement.

Application for admission to a primary art school should include:

What data do primary art schools require to be provided in the application for admission?

The application for admission (only in Slovak) should be submitted on a form approved by the Ministry of Education. The admission criterion is the fulfilment of the required prerequisites in the preparatory course or the successful completion of the entrance examination in the chosen arts discipline in the primary course, or in courses for adults.

In general, entrance examinations at primary art schools take place between 01 April and 15 June.

The director announces the date and place of the entrance examination at least a month in advance, and announce the arts disciplines and fields of study for which applicants may apply.

Required data:

• surname and first name;
• date and place of birth;
• permanent address or address of usual residence of the child or pupil, if different from permanent address;
• birth registration number;
• citizenship;
• nationality.

What information does a primary art school require to identify the child’s or pupil’s legal representatives?

• surname and first name;
• permanent address or address of usual residence of the legal representative, if different from permanent address;
• contact details.

Placement of a child in the relevant grade

The director places pupils in grades based on the recommendation of the board of admissions.

Pupil evaluation

An important and integral part of education at a primary art schools is assessment and evaluation of pupils.

Continuous assessment and evaluation of pupils are used for the assessment of partial results and attainment of pupils, and their main purpose is to motivate them. At the end of the first and second term of the school year, a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of pupils take place to assess their level of knowledge, skills and attainment as objectively as possible.

2. What should citizens expect

Admission of children of foreigners with a residence permit in Slovakia for studies at a primary art school.

Admission to the preparatory course is conditional upon meeting the requirements. Admission to the primary course and to a course for adults is conditional upon passing the entrance examination in the chosen arts discipline.

Pupils’ dispositions and the level of artistic abilities are assessed by a board of admissions, which the school director sets up for this purpose and which submits proposals regarding admission of pupils and their placement in courses.

The director decides on the admission of children to a primary art school.

Where is the entrance examination held?

The director will announce the place of the entrance examination at least a month in advance. Within the same deadline, the director will announce the arts disciplines and fields of studies for which applicants may apply. As a general rule, the director will also announce when and where the results of the examination will be published.

When is the entrance examination held?

The director will fix the period during which the recruitment tests are to be carried out between 1 April and 15 June. Foreigners who come to Slovakia with children in a different month may also apply for admission to a primary art school during the year.

When does the school year start and end?

The school year starts on 2 September and ends on 30 June of the next calendar year, and it consists of the first and second term. The first term starts on 2 September and ends on 31 January of the following calendar year. The second term starts on 01 February and ends on 30 June.

3. Who should citizens contact when they need assistance or advice?

For more detailed information on the procedure for applying to a primary art school, as well as on the study itself, contact:

• the primary art school where you want to enrol your child;
• the relevant municipal education authority.

4. Sanctions for non-compliance with obligations

Children may not be admitted to a primary art school if the legal representatives:

• fail to make sure that their children take the entrance examination;
• fail to provide the school with the required information.