The main political aims of funding adult education and training are related to the principle of lifelong learning. Public funds ensure that the greatest possible number of adults is included in the educational and training programmes. It is important these programmes aim at developing new teaching approaches and methods, validation of prior learning, and inform adults about the possibilities of education and training.
The mechanisms of financing adult education are regulated by the Adult Education Act, the Organization and Financing of Education Act, the Public Finance Act, the Republic of Slovenia Budget Implementation Act and other legal acts.
The purposes and the amount of available funds for a particular period are determined by the National Assembly of Republic of Slovenia by means of a strategic document – The National Adult Education Master Plan (Resolution on the National Adult Education Master Plan until 2010 – ReNPIO, sl). An annual adult education master plan (Annual Adult Education Master Plan in the Republic of Slovenia for 2013, sl) drawn by the Government determines the aims, priority areas of work, educational programmes, scope and types of activity funded from public funds and financial resources. Before the annual plan of adult education is adopted, the Government obtains an opinion by the Council of Experts for Adult Education.
These two documents determine which adult education programmes are in the public interest.
Adult education is funded from the state and municipal budget as well as from other sources (adult education funds, employers' funds, grants, donations, gifts and scholarships).
The state funds:
Municipalities fund:
Methods of funding are determined by the Adult Education Act (sl), the Annual Adult Education Master Plan or by additional rules and regulations. The use of public funds should be traceable and in accordance with the regulations that apply to the use of public funds. This is supervised by the Court of Auditors of the Republic of Slovenia.
The law stipulates that funds from the public budget can only be provided on the basis of a public tender. In funding adult education programmes which are in the public interest, the principle of thirds is applied: one third of the cost is settled by participants, one third comes from the local community and one third from the state budget. This type of funding presupposes a connection between public and private funding sources where the education providers can be either public or private. Every education provider who wishes to apply for public funds must be registered for work in education. In order to execute officially approved education programmes, the provider must be registered in the Register managed by the responsible ministry of education, which should ensure that providers have the appropriate human resources, venue and equipment and can issue officially approved certificates.
Programmes or courses which are entirely funded by the state are free of charge for the participants and providers cannot request any additional means for covering expenses. This applies to those adult education programmes which are made available by law (primary school for adults) or other regulations, or “the annual plan” (presently these are: education for the unemployed, education programmes of “Training for Success in Life” and “Project Learning for Young Adults”). The basis for allocating the amount of funds is the Ministerial Order on Standards and Norms in Adult Education (sl).
is used for (entire or partial) funding of educational programmes and courses, for which registered providers need to have special qualifications and ensure an appropriate venue and equipment. The size of the programme and the number of participants is determined by the annual plan. Study circles, independent learning centres, knowledge stock exchanges and adult consultation centres are also funded in the same way. Providers receive the money monthly, the amount of which is based on reports for the previous year.
The providers of educational programmes who can issue officially approved certificates are ensured a part of the funds for the salary of a professional worker – organiser of adult education. The amount depends on the success rate in the previous year, which is determined by considering the number of participants and the level of difficulty of the programme (formal and informal education). The allocation of funds for the present year, which the providers are paid monthly, is carried out based on a report for the previous year.
are used for funding annual programmes of public institutes, which were founded by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia in accordance with the Organization and Financing of Education Act for development, research and consultation, in the field of adult education and schooling. The Slovenian Institute for Adult Education is responsible for adult education, assisted by the National Examinations Centre, the National Education Institute of the Republic of Slovenia and the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training. The tasks set by the responsible ministry of education are evaluated on the basis of the employee's wage groups and pricelists of services, which have been confirmed by the (supervisory) board of the public institute. The scope of work and funds are subject to negotiations between the provider and the institute.
Research projects which are specific for education are funded in accordance with purpose-specific funding and the annual work plan of research institutions. More challenging and larger research projects are funded on the basis of a public call for tenders.
Participants of adult education programmes which are entirely funded from public funds are exempt from paying for the programmes. The Adult Education Act stipulates that attending adult primary school and adult educational programmes which are determined by the annual programme are free of charge. In this way, adults are eligible for the free “Training for Success in Life" programme and educational programmes for the unemployed.
Participants or the employers of participants of formal and informal adult education programmes which are not entirely funded by from the public funds have to pay for the programme. In the event that the state is covering part of the expenses, the provider of the programme shall reduce school fees pro rata. In this way, it indirectly influences the prices of the programme.
The amended 2006 Adult Education Act enables participants of officially approved adult educational upper-secondary courses and higher professional education courses, who are not in an employment relationship, are not registered as unemployed and are not participating in any training courses available to the unemployed, to apply for scholarship under conditions determined by the scholarship provider. They are eligible for this scholarship up to the age of 27.
The Reducing Educational Deficiencies programme aims at improving the general qualifications of adults and enables adult study assistance for participants of formal educational courses for acquiring a high school certificate. Participants must apply to the public tender of the Slovene Human Resources Development and Scholarship Fund. The funds are partially provided by the European Union from the European Social Fund and partially by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. Adult participants of educational courses who complete all the requirements of secondary schooling/education between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible to have 90% of the school fees paid if they can prove that they have successfully overcome the educational deficiency, acquired secondary education qualifications and have paid the school fees themselves. Funds in the amount of over 7 million Euros are available for the school years 2007 to 2013.
Benefits and assistance are described under the section Financial support for learners' families of children and primary and secondary school pupils.
There is no special tax relief for adults who are participating in training.
The amended 2006 Adult Education Act enables participants of officially approved adult educational courses, primary, upper secondary and higher professional education courses, who are not in an employment relationship, are not registered as unemployed persons and are not participating in any training courses, to have the right to healthcare and compulsory health insurance and other social benefits determined by other regulations e.g. subsidized transport. These benefits can be obtained up to age 27.
Providers of adult educational programmes are primarily private institutions which are financed through means of scholarships, donations or from other sources. Private institutions are autonomous in shaping business policies, determining the school fees and allocating funds, and are accountable for it. The role of the state is primarily to manage and control the execution of officially approved educational programmes which issue the officially approved certificate. Control is carried out by Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Education and Sport, which checks whether the programme is executed in accordance with regulations.
are compulsory for those participants who are not eligible to receive public funds. Fees are determined by the provider of the programme and are settled by the participant or their employee. Payments are settled directly with the provider of the educational programme. The state cannot determine the fee, however it tends to use different forms of partial programme funding in order to invite providers into the system of adult educational programmes, thereby indirectly influencing the level of school fees of those programmes which are not publically funded.
Benefits and assistance are described under the section Financial support for learners' families of children and primary and secondary school pupils.
Benefits and assistance are outlined under the section Financial benefits to adult participants of educational programmes.
Private institutions who satisfy the requirements and regulations for the execution of educational programmes may apply for public funds every year under the provision that the client sets the conditions and the upper limit of funds allocated for the education of every participant, or limits the value of a particular programme and sets the conditions on how many participants there may be included in one programme. Public funds are determined and may only be used for a particular purpose. Public funds are supervised by the Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia and all providers must act in accordance with the regulations for public funds and permit an audit. They are autonomous in deciding on the allocation of surplus funds and are accountable for the execution and expenditure of funds. There is no data about any private institution being entirely supported by public funds.
are to be paid by all those participants who are not supported by public funds. Those who are partially funded are eligible for pro rata support. School fees are paid by the participants or their employers or adult education funds under the auspices of the Chamber of Craft and Small Business.
Benefits and assistance are described in the section Financial support for learners' families of children and primary and secondary school pupils.
Benefits and assistance are outlined in the section Financial benefits to adult participants of educational programmes.