The Government of the Republic of Slovenian adopted in April 2021 the Recovery and resilience plan (sl). The Council of EU approved it end of July 2021.
It supports the process initiated in February, namely the process of modernisation of education programmes and modernisation of kindergarten curriculum.
End of March 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the Rules on norms and standards of preschool education provision (sl). It provides the underlying basis for a classification of a new job post in kindergartens until September 2021 and employ a technical staff – maintainer of learning technology and/or computer equipment. Kindergartens with several children of Roma background enroled can decide to classify a Roma assistant.
In February 2021, the Ministry responsible for education started the multi-year modernisation of education programmes (sl). By the decision of the Minister, the National education institute Slovenia has to develop background material for the modernisation of education programmes, as well as background material for modernisation of the Kindergarten Curriculum. For more information about the modernisation see subparagraphs Modernisation of basic school education.
In January 2021, the National Assembly adopted the new Kindergarten Act (sl). The new law does away with flaws of current setting that occurred in practice.
The new law seeks to increase the enrolment rate in kindergartens. It reintroduced free kindergarten for the second child attending kindergarten at the same time as the older sibling. It extended the right to a free kindergarten to families of at least three children. The third child (and all the next) now has this right even if none of his or her siblings attend the kindergarten at the same time.
The amended law boosts the institution of childminders at home and marks out the activity of preschool education and the activity of care, as well as other services aimed at preschool children, not of care, but more like animation, organisation of birthday parties, and so forth. It specifies severe sanctions for violating the interdiction, and sets out circumstances for the inspectors responsible for schools to pursue their activities more efficiently.
In July 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the Rule on additional professional and physical assistance for children with special needs (sl). It relates to the Act Regulating the Integrated Early Treatment of Preschool Children with Special Need. The provisions related to placement of preschool teachers were deleted, because the new law does not forsee the placement.
In June 2021, the Education, Science and Culture Trade Union of Slovenia signed with the Government of the Republic of Slovenian the Annex to the Collective Agreement for the Education Sector in the Republic of Slovenia (sl). It amended and/or defined the time lag for the salary to be paid out on day 10 of the relevant month at the latest.
Further, it amended the commuting, meal and holiday allowances, daily and off-site allowances, allowance per kilometre covered by a personal vehicle for work, holiday allowance, compensation for upper secondary and higher education students in compulsory practical training, and threshold for acquiring the right to solidary help for members of the representative union. Now, the amount of the meals allowance will be adjusted twice a year, the amount of the separation allowance, daily allowance for business travels within the country, long-service bonuses and solidarity help once a year, and for acquiring the right to long-service bonus one shall also allow for the years of employment with the concessionaires that pursue activities in the public service network.
In May 2021, consulted the ministrieas and the public on the draft new Rules on early treatment in educational institutions and with other providers of preschool education programmes for SEN children (sl). It introduces help and support for children with various factors and children with special needs, cooperation paths for educational institutions and other providers of programmes for children with special needs with an early treatment center, criteria for approving individual forms of help, as well as form sheets required.
In January 2021, one published the Rules on the process and criteria for the award of titles to education staff in the adapted programme for preschool education children and the special education programme for SEN children and youth in social welfare institutions (sl). The Minister responsible for education passed it. The staff in such settings now can be promoted to a title the same as the education staff in mainstream education.
The Ordinance on the approach to meeting the recovered-vaccinated-tested requirements to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (sl) came into force on September 6. It imposed on the staff in education (higher education, too) a mandatory recovered-vaccinated-tested requirement. To be able to assume work duties and responsibilities the staff can self-test with antigen testing kits at one-week intervals. Employers in education provide funds for self-testing and specify the time and place of self-testing that can be at home or at work. Employers can according to the ordinance act against the employees who do not meet the RVT requirement, namely according to the rules on occupational health and safety, rules on employment relations, and relevant collective agreements. Persons and employees who fail to meet the RVT requirement shall not be allowed to use services and participate or be present during the provision of a service.
On 1 April 2021, the deteriorated epidemiological situation and by the relevant ordinance of the Government (sl) kindergartens closed. They were only allowed to provide the needed care. Kindergartens welcomed back all children on 12 April 2021. The activities in kindergartens have been taking place according to the recommendations by the National institute of public health.
In February 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted the Rules on the method of funding the protection equipment and room disinfection for providers in education and science (sl). It applies to the state funding. The funding criteria are number of employees and number of children and students as per standard cost of each employee and participant. The period of funding eligible costs of protection equipment takes from 1 March 2021 until the stop of compulsory use of protection equpment and disinfection of rooms for spread prevention of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
On 25 January 2021, kindergartens opened doors in regions with better epidemiological situation. This meant that all enrolled preschool children could return to kindergarten. On 15 February 2021, all kindergartens in Slovenia reopened. By the Ordinance temporarily prohibiting gatherings of people in educational institutions and universities and independent higher education institutions (sl) as of February 2021, the staff of educational institutions have to get weekly rapid SARS-CoV-2 test.
In November 2020, the Minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the Rules on the organisation, operation and financing of state-funded short programme preschool groups (sl). The rules did away following the implementation evaluation of the free short programme for children who do not attend kindergarten in the year before they will reach compulsory school age, with the obstacles that, to some extent, rendered the organisation of such programmes impossible.
Key amendments:
End of December 2020, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Act on the Intervention for Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavioural disorders in Education (sl). The new law sets out the operations of behaviour related educational institutions that will in the future, pursue the activities of professional centres in four geographical areas and will on their own or in cooperation with other professional centres provide the integrated help to children and youth with emotional and behavioural disorders. The law provides for several possibilities of flexible support, cooperation of individual sectors, as well as introduces mechanisms for better protection of rights and safety of children, youth and staff. Chiefly, the law seeks to establish a single setting for integrated treatment of children with emotional and behavioural disorders in behaviour related educational institutions that are in the realm of different ministries, and facilitate the establishment of professional centres to provide the preventive activities for children in kindergartens and schools. In this way, children will receive help and support needed sooner rather later and it will facilitate eventual placements later.
In August 2020, one adopted the amendments to the Education staff promotion Rules (sl). The amendments support the agreement signed by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Independent Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture in December 2018. The Government undertook to cooperate with the representatives of the Union in modernising the career development of education staff. The Rules provide for smoother promotion of education staff to the highest title.
In July 2020, the Ministry of education coordinated inter ministries the draft new law on the intervention for children and young people with emotional and conduct disorders and problems in education.
In December 2020, the Minister responsible for education adopted the Decision on the emergency measures in personnel administration required for smooth operations of educational institutions (sl).
According to the decision, a new staff category has been systematised, namely for technical staff: maintainer of learning technology with a minimum educational qualification of the EQF level 5 required and/or maintainer of computer equipment with a minimum educational qualification of the EQF level 7.
In October 2020, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Ordinance temporarily prohibiting gatherings of people in educational institutions and universities and independent higher education institutions (sl). On 26 October, because the second wave of the epidemic, all kindergartens closed their doors. Kindergartens provided only care for children of parents working in crucial infrastructure and/or parents in urgent need of care for their children.
By the Communicable Diseases Act of October 2020 (sl), the public and publicly co-funded kindergarten can reject a child who has not been vaccinated. The paediatrician’s certificate has to evidence that the child has been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, or state eventual medical reasons why not.
In the school year 2020/2021, the education activities in kindergartens, basic schools, upper secondary schools started on 1 September, as normally and according to the B model (all go to school). The Ministry of education developed together with the National education institute and National institute of public health and issued the publication "Education in the Republic of Slovenia relevant to COVID-19" (sl). Four possible models of instruction and relevant recommendations have been introduced, namely to answer questions on how schools can plan and implement educational activities. It applies by analogy to kindergartens, too.
The education models of instruction and/or education activities shall apply according to the epidemiological situation in the country:
End of August, the public institutes (e. g. National education institute (ZRSŠ): project "Improving competence of education staff in managing the innovative educational institution", and the Institute for vocational education and training – CPI) implemented various training to support kindergarten and school teachers, head teachers and other education staff in their endeavours to make distance learning work.
With the improved epidemic situation, kindergartens reopened their doors on 18 May and started educational activities for half of their children. On 3 June, kindergartens invited back all their children.
In April and May 2020, the Ministry of education in cooperation with the Ministry of health, National institute of public health, National education institute, Institute for vocational education and training, Slovenian institute for adult education, representatives of the head teacher associations, representatives of the Independent trade union of education, science and culture, as well as other stakeholders joined forces to set conditions for quality education, care for vulnerable groups, and safe reopening of kindergartens and schools. For this purpose, specified measures and actions were specified in the legislation on intervention measures to supress the epidemic spread and contain the epidemic and reduce or do away with negative impacts; the educational institutions received circular letters, instructions and recommendations for the implementation of the educational process, assessment and completion of the school year.
Instructions and recommendations (sl) for kindergartens, schools, as well as schools and educational institutions for SEN children, higher vocational collages, residence halls for upper secondary students, music schools, and information and professional recommendation for adult education institutions (sl) have been published online.
In April and May 2020, one held distance training for kindergarten education staff. They have been organised by the National Education Institute, under the common title "Paths to better learning outcomes" (sl) and in the scope of the project "Improving competence of education staff in managing the innovative educational institution for the period 2018 to 2022" that has been part funded by the Republic of Slovenia and European Union’s ESF. Different webinars have been set up in online classrooms, all education staff had the opportunity to participate in one of the listed seminars per week:
In May 2020, one adopted the the Act Determining the Intervention Measures to Mitigate and Remedy the Consequences of the COVID-19 Epidemic (sl). It made provision for the exemption of payment for all parents for the time their child had not gone to kindergarten during the epidemic; it allowed for the extension of deadlines to enrol in higher education institutions and to consider the extreme circumstances in the procedure of obtaining and maintaining the right to scholarship.
In April 2020, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted and amended the Act Determining the Intervention Measures to Contain the COVID-19 Epidemic and Mitigate its Consequences for Citizens and the Economy (sl) that among other, provided the legal background for the implementation of distant teaching and regulated funding for providers of public service, as well as private kindergartens, that had not operated during epidemic.
According to the Ordinance on the temporary prohibition of assembly in educational institutions and universities, as well as independent higher education institutions (sl), all kindergartens, schools, and most of institutions of education of SEN children, all adult education organisations, universities, and independent higher education institutions, residential halls for basic school, upper secondary and/or higher education students, and music schools closed their doors and have remained closed since 16 March 2020. All childminders, too stopped their operations.
In March 2020, the National Education Institution Slovenia (ZRSŠ) after a month-long public debate of experts published the proposed revision of the concept of identifying gifted and talented learners and educational activities for them. The group of experts on education and educational activities for gifted and talented children at ZRSŠ elaborated the document, and the focus groups gave their critical input, assessment and recommendation. The draft new document is the revised concept of identifying gifted and talented learners and educational activities for such learners at basic school (1999) and upper secondary school (2007). It was premised on appropriate expertise. It provides for identifying potential gifted and talented learners in schools, as well as in kindergartens, and it further outlines the role of mentors, pedagogical coordinators, school counselling service and teachers. It underlines individualisation, differentiation and personalisation in the scope of mainstream instruction and the significance of continuous education and training.
In May 2019, the Ministry of education put forward for public debate the draft Act amending Kindergarten Act (sl). The new provisions:
In January 2019, the Act Regulating the Integrated Early Treatment of Preschool Children with Special Needs of 2017 started to apply and it introduced amendments to the system of providing support and help to children with impairments, disorders and difficulties or children associated with risk factors. As specified by the new law, children will get help as early as possible, and parents will receive information in one place. Children can now be identified in within the family, the health system or in the provision of preventive health care at primary level or check-ups within this scope or other approaches in kindergartens, educational institutions, and social care institutions or in the scope of services provided by social work centres. The development clinics shall gradually turn into early treatment centres where children shall be approached by different professionals who will then recommend held and support best suited to their needs.
In December 2019, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the National Strategy for the Development of Reading Literacy 2019–2030 (doc, sl). Its aim is for each and everyone in Slovenia to develop the level of literacy needed for them to become skilled at active life and work. The development of reading literacy is the foundation for economic progress, sustainable development, and social cohesion. Furthermore, continuous development of reading literacy at all ages is a prerequisite of lifelong learning. The strategy includes a framework of specific goals for different age/target groups, and descriptors of reading literacy levels per age group. For further information about the strategy see the Overall national education strategy and key objectives.
Since November 2019 until February 2020, the draft new Act on Intervention for Children and Youth with Emotional and Conduct Disorders was coordinated inter ministeries. The public debate on the draft ended in August 2019.
Its intent is to set up a single system of holistic intervention for children and youth with emotional and conduct disorders in relevant institutes that up until now had been provided within activities of various sectors, as well as set up a situation to allow for professional centres that would pursue preventive activities with children in kindergartens and schools. Read further under Reforms in basic and upper secondary general education (gimnazije).
In September 2019, the Ministry of education started funding classes of adapted programme for preschool SEN children with within kindergartens, namely to the tune of difference in cost over the mainstream classes. The Ministry's aim with this action is to improve the network of the so-called developmental classes for which one adapted curriculum, as well as the norms on organising classes (classes of no more than 6 children). The planned annual funds amount to €2 million.
In September 2019, the new Organisation and reimbursement of travel cost for SEN children and youth Rules (sl) came into operation. The Rules define travelling of SEN children for whom the Ministry of education provides funds. The major change is the organisation of transport of preschool children who are entitled under the law on early treatment, and these children are now in equal position with children in adapted programmes at educational institutions for SEN children and youth. The Rules came about also after the initiative put forward by parents claiming that they can provide for children to travel to and back from school or institution.
Based on the strike agreement, agreement on salaries, and annexes to the collective agreement signed by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and public sector unions, one adopted and published in December 2018 and January 2019 respectively, the Public Sector Salary System Act (en), annexes to collective agreements for non-commercial activities, public sector, education and training activities, as well as other instruments to support their enforcement.