In January 2025, the State Vocational Education Institute became a part of the Pact for Skills, which aims to mobilize joint efforts to support the upskilling and reskilling of people of working age. This initiative brings together key partners from various sectors – from educational institutions and employer organizations to governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The national initiative, coordinated by the State Vocational Education Institute under the name Pact for Basic Skills, will, in collaboration with partners, promote strengthening of literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. It reflects the need to address the shortcomings identified in the PIAAC survey (2024). These skills are crucial to ensuring equal opportunities, personal development and economic prosperity.

The Pact for Basic Skills in Slovakia aims to:

• Create a platform for collaboration among stakeholders in the field of basic skills development, fostering discussion, cooperation, and advocacy for basic skills needs in Slovakia.
• Develop and strengthen the concept of basic skills, building awareness among policymakers, institutions at the national, regional, and local levels, educational institutions, employers, learners, and the public.
• Increase awareness of opportunities for developing basic skills, enhancing their accessibility and quality.
• Facilitate the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and success stories in basic skills development to build capacity, mutual understanding, and learning.

The Pact for Skills supports the ambitious goals of the European Union: by 2030, at least 60% of adults should participate in vocational education and training annually, and the employment rate of people aged 20 to 64 should reach 78%.

Slovakia views the development of Basic skills as an essential part of building a modern and inclusive society and a prerequisite for promoting lifelong learning. The Pact for Basic Skills is part of the activities supporting the goals of the Slovak Republic defined in the Lifelong Learning and Guidance Strategy 2021-2030.

The initiator of the Pact for Skills in Slovakia is the State Vocational Education Institute, which has invited stakeholders at the national level to collaborate in this area. These stakeholders include non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, schools, employers, policymakers, and others who support or are directly involved in the development of basic skills in Slovakia.

The Pact for Basic Skills in Slovakia will focus on raising awareness of basic skills among both professional and general audiences, sharing best practices within Slovakia and internationally, organizing joint events on basic skills, and mapping the availability of basic skills development opportunities in Slovakia.

Through partnerships, the exchange of best practices, and the development of stakeholder networks, we aim to create conditions that will ensure Slovakia not only responds to European goals but also actively contributes to shaping a sustainable and educated Europe.
For more information, visit pact-for-skills.ec.europa.eu and zakladnezrucnosti.sk

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Author of the article: Gabriela Budayova (Social Media Coordinator, Content Creator)

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