The Ministry of Education of Slovakia (Slovakia) led by Tomáš Drucker has prepared a large package of amendments containing several hundred changes to school legislation. Among the most notable innovations are mandatory certification of foreign children and granting school principals the right to check students' personal belongings and lockers.
The proposed reforms aim to increase safety levels in educational institutions and assess the quality of integration of foreign students, whose numbers in Slovak schools have significantly increased in recent years.
Total inspection of foreign students
One of the key points of the reform will be a large-scale assessment of knowledge and proficiency in the Slovak language among children with foreign citizenship. Preliminary testing is planned within 2 months after the student is admitted to school.
Currently, the Ministry of Education has not yet published clear criteria, formats, and methodology for evaluating language proficiency and student adaptation.
Checking backpacks and lockers: new powers for principals
Against the background of increasing dangerous incidents in educational institutions (cases of bringing knives, brass knuckles, airsoft weapons, and even gas pistols to classes), schools will receive a legislative tool for response. Until now, if a student refused to show the contents of their bag, the administration had no legal grounds to inspect the belongings.
The new rules will give principals the right to check pockets, backpacks, and students' school lockers, as well as to confiscate dangerous items. However, the procedure will have strict limitations:
Inspection is possible only if there is a justified suspicious reason or a threat to life and health of people.
To open a personal locker, the principal must draw up an official written report (protocol).
The administration is obliged to immediately inform the parents or guardians about the inspection of the minor student's personal belongings.
Security experts emphasize that before implementing this practice, teachers and school leaders must undergo special training to properly assess risks.
When will the changes take effect?
The document is currently at the stage of coordination and discussion. If the package of amendments is successfully adopted by the Parliament of Slovakia (Slovakia) and signed by the president, the new norms will take effect from January 2027.
