- 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?
- What should citizens expect
- Who should citizens contact when they need assistance or advice?
- What are the most frequently asked questions regarding this situation in life?
- Sanctions for non-compliance with obligations
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?
No one is exempted from fulfilment of compulsory school attendance (‘CSA’, § 19 of the Education Act). CSA starts at the beginning of the school year after the child reaches the age of six and has achieved school readiness. CSA lasts 10 years at the most until the end of the school year when the student reaches the age of 16.
The term ‘special educational need’ refers to a requirement for adjustment of conditions, content, forms, methods, and approaches in a child’s or pupil’s education, stemming from their disability or high ability or upbringing in a socially disadvantaged background, the application of which is necessary for developing their skills or personalities, and achieving an appropriate level of educational attainment and social inclusion.
Special education focuses on children and pupils with special educational needs:
- with a mental disability, physical disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, impaired communication abilities, autism, developmental learning disorders, behavioural disorders;
- who are sick or have compromised health;
- high ability;
- from socially disadvantaged background in the relevant schools and school facilities.
Education of children and pupils with a health disadvantage takes place at:
In ordinary schools, i.e. in ordinary kindergarten, primary and secondary classes, together with other children or school pupils; Where necessary, such a child or pupil is educated according to an individual educational program developed by the school in cooperation with the school’s educational establishment for prevention and counselling; The child’s or pupil’s legal representative shall have the right to acquaint himself with the program.
Education of high-ability children or pupils takes place in schools specialised in the development of:
a) intellectual ability of children and pupils;
b) artistic ability of children or pupils;
c) sports talent of children or pupils.
Talent development is supported by:
a) institutional conditions created by founders of schools;
b) individual conditions created by schools.
Education of children and pupils from socially disadvantaged background takes place in regular schools according to individual conditions, which include:
a) adaptation of education organisation;
b) adaptation of the environment where the education takes place;
c) implementation of specific methods and forms of education.
Education attained, except for that attained in schools with educational programmes for children and pupils with mental disabilities, is equivalent to the education attained in kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools (Educational programmes for children and pupils with a health disadvantage and general intellectual ability).
More information and contacts relating to educational, psychological and special pedagogical counselling and special educational facilities and special and inclusive education.
2. What should citizens expect
Children or pupils are admitted to schools for children and pupils with a health disadvantage based on their disadvantage following diagnostic examinations aimed at identifying their special educational needs, carried out by facilities of educational counselling and prevention.
Schools or classes for high-ability children or pupils are designated for children or pupils who have demonstrated high ability (based on pedagogical diagnostics focused on their knowledge level, tests to verify special abilities, skills and talents, or psychodiagnostic testing).
Children or pupils whose special educational needs arise solely from their development in a socially disadvantaged background may not be admitted to a special school or to a special kindergarten class, a special primary school class or a special secondary school class.
School facilities for children or pupils with special educational needs:
School facilities of educational counselling and prevention
School facilities of educational counselling and prevention provide psychological, pedagogical, special pedagogical activities, including speech therapy and remedial teaching activities, and social activities aimed at optimising the educational, psychological, social and career development of children from birth until completion of professional training. They focus in particular on children with special educational needs. They also provide counselling services to children’s legal representatives and teaching staff.
The basic components of the system of educational counselling and prevention are the facilities of educational, psychological and special pedagogical counselling and prevention:
a) center of pedagogical-psychological counselling and prevention,,
b) special pedagogical counselling center.
Other elements of the system of educational counselling and prevention include:
a) educational counsellor,
b) career counsellor,
c) school psychologist,
d) school special educator,
e) remedial teacher,
f) social educator,
g) prevention coordinator.
Special educational facilities include:
a) diagnostic centre - provides diagnostic, psychological, psychotherapeutic, educational care for children with compromised
or jeopardised psychosocial development,
b) re-education centre - on the basis of an educational program and an individual re-educational program provides children
up to the age of 18 with the possibility of extension by one year of education and training, including vocational training with a view
to their reintegration into the original social environment at the child’s request,
c) therapeutic and educational sanatorium - provides psychological, psychotherapeutic care and education for children with
developmental learning disorders and children with activity and attention disorders for whom outpatient care has not led to correction.
3. Who should citizens contact when they need assistance or advice?
- School offices
- District Offices in the seats of the regions - Department of Education
- The National Institute for Education
- Research Institute of Child Psychology and Psychopathology
4. What are the most frequently asked questions regarding this situation in life?
Who are children and pupils with special educational needs?
- With mental/physical disability, visual/hearing impairment, impaired communication ability, autism, developmental learning disorders, behavioural disorders, sick or with compromised health;
- high ability;
- from socially disadvantaged background.
What are the possibilities of educating children and pupils with special educational needs?
- Education in schools (in classes together with other pupils or in special classes in regular schools);
- in schools for children or pupils with special educational needs (i.e. special schools).
5. Sanctions for non-compliance with obligations
Children or pupils are admitted to special schools and special classes based on their health disadvantage, following diagnostic examinations to identify their special educational needs carried out by an educational prevention and counselling facility. The education of a child or a pupil in a special school or special class requires the consent of a legal representative.
Last modified: 16. 8. 2021
Publication date: 13. 10. 2020