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Factsheet for measure SK-2024-39/3815 – measures in Slovakia

Cash Grant for Slovak language courses for foreigners

Príspevok na jazykové vzdelávanie cudzincov – kurzy slovenského jazyka

Country Slovakia , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 26 September 2024 – 31 December 2025
Context Labour Migration Management
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
– Other
Author Rastislav Bednárik (IVPR)
Measure added 25 April 2025 (updated 06 June 2025)

Background information

There is currently a shortage of workers in Slovakia, which is why the government is supporting immigration and the integration of foreigners into the labor market and society. The government is using several measures for this purpose, including support for the education of foreigners in the Slovak language by providing Slovak language lessons to foreigners free of charge: the financial costs for learning will be paid by the government. In two calls, the Ministry of Education offered language schools to reimburse their costs for language education of foreigners through Slovak language courses (as a foreign language). The first call was announced on 26.9.2024 and the second on 24.3.2025. Eligible applicants are language schools included in the network of schools and school facilities of the Slovak Republic. The first call for proposals assumed the completion of the implementation of language courses on 31.12.2024 and the second call for 31.12.2025.

Content of measure

The subsidy is provided by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic to municipalities, higher territorial units, state-recognized churches and religious societies in the Slovak Republic that are founders of language schools. The funds can be used to provide language courses that language schools provide for foreigners (costs of employee remuneration, books, educational materials, etc.). The amount of the contribution per student in the course is 300 euros. The duration of the course for teaching Slovak (as a foreign language) is at least 60 teaching hours of education. The condition for eligibility for financial support is that the foreigner has completed at least 70% of the language course (minimum 42 hours). The amount of the subsidy for the published call in 2024 is €447,743. The amount of the subsidy for the published call in 2025 is €530,663. The maximum amount of subsidy provided by the ministry for one project is €60,000. The estimated number of trained foreigners is 3200 people.

Use of measure

In 2024, €317,763 was paid to language schools for the implementation of Slovak language courses for foreigners in 8 regions of Slovakia. See more at https://www.minedu.sk/prispevok-na-specifika-prispevok-na-jazykove-vzdelavanie-cudzincov/.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment
Sector specific set of companies
Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)
Local / regional government
European Funds
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Social partners were not involved

Views and reactions

Employers support this measure - in connection with the influx of new labor force to Slovakia. Trade unionists support the integration of foreigners into society

Sectors and occupations

Sources

  • 26 September 2024: Výzva MŠVVM na podporu jazykového vzdelávania cudzincov na rok 2024 (www.minedu.sk)
  • 24 March 2025: Výzva MŠVVM na podporu jazykového vzdelávania cudzincov na rok 2025 (www.minedu.sk)

Citation

Eurofound (2025), Cash Grant for Slovak language courses for foreigners , measure SK-2024-39/3815 (measures in Slovakia), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/SK-2024-39_3815.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.