Education in Slovakia is characterized by a free education system with ten years of compulsory school attendance. The majority of schools, particularly universities, are state-owned, although private and church-owned institutions have emerged since the 1990s.

Education is compulsory for ten years in Slovakia. The academic week runs from Monday to Friday. Saturdays were previously school days but were eliminated before the 1980s. The summer break extends from the beginning of July to the start of September. Universities may also have breaks in June. Shorter breaks are scheduled for around Christmas and Easter, as well as during spring, autumn, and on official holidays. The school year is divided into two semesters, with the first concluding at the end of January and the second before the summer holidays. Primary and secondary school students typically attend approximately six 45-minute classes daily, with fewer classes for younger students and more for older ones. Breaks are interspersed between classes, including several short breaks and a longer "big break." State-funded education, including textbooks and instructional materials up to the university level, is generally free, although private schools are tuition-based. Textbooks are usually returned at the end of each semester. Grading in standard schools involves a numerical scale from 1 (best) to 5 (worst). Teachers may use unofficial intermediary marks for individual assignments, but official reports at the end of each semester list final grades. Compared to some Western European systems, Slovak grading practices may lean towards assigning more marks at the "good" end of the scale, resulting in a higher prevalence of 1s, 2s, and 3s. Students below university level receive school reports with final marks at the end of each semester.

The history of education in Slovakia is intertwined with its broader historical context. Prior to the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918, education was largely influenced by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After Czechoslovakia's formation, the education system underwent significant reforms to unify and modernize it across the newly formed nation. During the communist era (1948-1989), education was heavily centralized and ideologically driven, with a focus on technical and vocational training to support the state's planned economy. Following the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and the subsequent dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Slovakia embarked on a path of educational reform to align with democratic values and market economy needs. This period saw decentralization efforts, curriculum revisions, and the diversification of school types, including the rise of private and church-affiliated schools. Slovakia's entry into the European Union in 2004 further spurred reforms aimed at harmonizing its education system with European standards, particularly through the Bologna Process in higher education.

Early childhood education in Slovakia comprises nurseries (jasle) for children aged 0–3 and kindergartens (materská škola) for children aged 3–6. Kindergarten attendance is not compulsory but is increasingly common, with high enrollment rates in the years leading up to primary school. Kindergartens play a crucial role in preparing children for formal education, focusing on social, emotional, and cognitive development through play-based learning and structured activities.

Primary education (základná škola) typically begins in the year a child turns six years old and lasts for nine years, divided into two stages. In some cases, primary schools are combined with kindergartens in a single institution. An alternative to the standard nine-year primary school is the "eight-year gymnasium" (osemročné gymnázium), a type of grammar school that students can enter after completing the fourth or fifth grade of primary school. These gymnasia offer a more academically focused curriculum from an earlier age. The primary education curriculum is structured in two stages:

This stage lays the foundation for future learning, focusing on basic literacy, numeracy, and social skills.

This stage broadens the curriculum and prepares students for secondary education. Students may attend either grades 5–9 of a standard primary school or grades 5–8 (or 5-9 depending on entry point) of an eight-year gymnasium. Due to demographic shifts and declining birth rates, many primary schools, particularly in rural areas, have been closed or consolidated since around 2000. Subjects taught in the second stage of primary education include:

In addition to regular schooling, Slovakia has a tradition of "primary art schools" (základná umelecká škola), which offer extracurricular afternoon classes in music, visual arts, drama, and dance. These schools are popular and attended by a significant number of primary school students.