Slovakia to Restore Academic Week Before High School Exit Exams in April

Slovakia will restore the traditional academic week before high school graduation exams (maturita) starting in April, correcting what education officials acknowledged as an oversight. The academic week, which gives students time off from regular classes to prepare for their final exams, has deep historical roots in Slovak education. Students were already taking time off before exams during the First Czechoslovak Republic era, and the practice was officially formalized during the communist period as a recognized preparation period for the crucial graduation tests that determine university admission eligibility.