Slovakia · Slovakia
Slovakia to Keep Paper Option for School-Leaving Exams
Education minister Tomáš Drucker says the ministry will not move the external school-leaving exam exclusively to the electronic eMaturita system, keeping the paper form available alongside it.
Slovakia's education ministry has confirmed it will not move the external part of the school-leaving exam exclusively to the electronic eMaturita system, keeping the traditional paper form available as well, minister Tomáš Drucker said on 27 September. In the 2025/2026 school year, more than 6,300 students took the electronic exam, with over 95 percent of schools participating; the electronic option covered Slovak and Hungarian language and literature.
Drucker said students are not forced to take the electronic exam and that a lasting divide between those preferring paper and those preferring electronic formats may persist. He said the ministry wants to evaluate the dual approach carefully, supports gradual modernization, but cautioned against overwhelming schools with too many changes at once, noting more subjects will eventually be added to eMaturita.
Slovakia's education ministry will keep the paper option for school-leaving exams instead of moving fully to electronic eMaturita.
- Ministry will not switch exclusively to electronic eMaturita
- Paper exam form will remain available for students
- Over 6,300 students took electronic exam in 2025/2026
- More than 95 percent of schools joined eMaturita
- More subjects to get electronic exam option gradually
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What's new
- Ministry confirms it will not switch exclusively to electronic eMaturita
- More than 6,300 students took the electronic exam in 2025/2026
- Electronic exam remains available for Slovak and Hungarian language and literature
- Ministry plans to gradually add more subjects to eMaturita
Slovakia's education ministry has confirmed it does not intend to move the external part of the school-leaving exam exclusively to the electronic eMaturita system, and will keep the traditional paper form available alongside it, minister Tomáš Drucker said, as reported on 27 September.12
Dual system to continue
According to the ministry, the electronic version of the external school-leaving exam, known as eMaturita, will not become the sole option for students. The classic paper form is planned to remain available in parallel, the ministry said.12
In the 2025/2026 school year, more than 6,300 students completed the electronic version of the external part of the exam. The electronic exam was offered in Slovak language and literature and Hungarian language and literature, alongside the traditional paper form, and students had the option to choose between the two.12
More than 95 percent of schools took part in eMaturita, according to Drucker. "eMaturita has effectively become standard practice in nearly every school. Zapojilo sa viac ako 95 percent škôl," he said.2
No compulsion, gradual expansion
The ministry does not require students to take the electronic exam, Drucker said. "Nenútime žiakov, aby každý išiel do elektronickej maturity."12
Drucker said it will gradually become possible to take electronic school-leaving exams in additional subjects beyond Slovak and Hungarian language and literature.12
He said the ministry wants to evaluate the two-form approach carefully, noting that a lasting split between students preferring paper and those preferring electronic exams may persist. "Každým rokom, a myslím si, že to môže byť aj trvalé riešenie, budete mať nejakú skupinu, ktorá bude chcieť zostať na papieri a ktorá bude chcieť maturovať elektronicky," he said. He added, "My to chceme naozaj veľmi poctivo vyhodnocovať."12
Caution on pace of change
Drucker said modernization and progress make sense, but urged focus on measures with the greatest effect. "Má zmysel modernizovať, má zmysel ísť dopredu, ale prosím, venujme sa tým častiam, ktoré prinášajú najväčší výsledok a význam," he said.2
He also said schools face many pressures from ongoing changes. "There are many changes being pushed onto schools. We need ambition to improve, but let's not go too fast," he said.2
Why it matters
The decision means students will continue to have the choice between paper and electronic forms of the school-leaving exam.2
How the story unfolded
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What we know
- The ministry will keep the paper form of the external school-leaving exam alongside eMaturita.
- More than 6,300 students took the electronic exam in 2025/2026, with over 95 percent of schools participating.
- The electronic exam was available in Slovak and Hungarian language and literature.
- Students had a choice between paper and electronic forms.
- The ministry plans to expand eMaturita to further subjects gradually.
What we don't know yet
- Whether the dual-form approach will become a formally permanent policy.
- Which additional subjects will be added to eMaturita and when.
- How the ministry will evaluate the two-form system in practice.
Timeline
- 2025More than 6,300 students took the electronic version of the external school-leaving exam.12
- Sep 27The education ministry confirmed it will not move exclusively to eMaturita and will keep the paper exam form.12
- Sep 27The electronic exam was confirmed available in Slovak and Hungarian language and literature, alongside paper exams.12
- Sep 27Drucker said electronic exams will gradually expand to additional subjects.12
Quotes
eMaturita has effectively become standard practice in nearly every school. Zapojilo sa viac ako 95 percent škôl,
Nenútime žiakov, aby každý išiel do elektronickej maturity.
My to chceme naozaj veľmi poctivo vyhodnocovať,
Má zmysel modernizovať, má zmysel ísť dopredu, ale prosím, venujme sa tým častiam, ktoré prinášajú najväčší výsledok a význam.
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Version history
- version 1 · 27 September at 11:09