A third school – this time Handlová Secondary Vocational School – signs up for dual education programme specialised in military training

The MOD continues to roll out its dual education programme, combining secondary schooling with military training, to secondary schools across Slovakia. After the schools in Sečovce and Trnava, the MOD has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Handlová Secondary Vocational School ('SOŠ Handlová') as a vocational education and training (VET) provider, in the presence of Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Krajčírovič, Chair of the Trenčín Self-Governing Region Jaroslav Baška, and School Director Maroš Štorcel.

The four-year, full-time 'Personal and Property Security' Study Programme for 15-19-year-olds is, for now, only being introduced to one school in the Trenčín region – Handlová Secondary Vocational School. Starting from the 2026-27 school year, primary school graduates will be eligible to enrol on this dual education programme – to be delivered in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces.

On the military-specialised study programme, Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Krajčírovič commented: “Right now, we are seeing great interest in this programme, and we are responsibly trying to select high-quality secondary schools in the regions to educate future members of the Armed Forces. I am pleased that after Sečovce and Trnava, we have found suitable conditions in Handlová, and we commit to taking the programme to Slovakia’s other regions as well. The uniqueness of this dual education programme lies, among others, in the fact that students complete on-the-job training in military units and get real work experience with the Armed Forces.”

On the school's educational facilities, Chair of the Trenčín Self-Governing Region Jaroslav Baška said: “I am pleased that we are one of the few schools which has a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Defence. This programme has a great future – not only for the school itself, but especially for those who will enrol on it. We have invested considerable funds in the school’s equipment, and we will do our best to ensure that the school will deliver top level teaching.”

On free funding and financial benefits for all students on the programme, Director of Handlová Secondary Vocational School Maroš Štorcel said: “This is a big milestone for our school, since the Ministry of Defence will cover the costs of accommodation, meals and transport and will provide study materials, clothing items for students, an out-of-pocket allowance of €100 a month, and a daily wage rate of €18 on a work-based training placement in a military unit. This is an unbeatable offer for parents and students. Last but not least, the MOD offers excellent employment opportunities to the programme graduates on the labour market.”