This chapter provides a thematic and chronological overview of national reforms and policy developments. It lays out the on-going reforms and policy developments related to:
In this chapter, we also depict the European perspective.
The continuous development of the system of education in the Republic of Slovenia is specified in national programmes and other documents related to one or several levels or areas of education.
In June 2021, the National assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Resolution on the National Programme for Language Policy 2021–2025 (sl).
The focus of the programmes is language education and language infrastructure, common language culture and language landscape, legal instruments and other binding documents of the Slovenian language policy, as well as the Slovenian presidency of the council of EU in the second half of 2021.
This strategic document provides a firm platform for professionals and policy makers to steer language situations in a sound and systematic manner within the Slovenian society, as well as the platform for public invitations to tender and for co-funding of projects in the scope of language policies.
The common goal of the language policy in the relevant period is to provide for quality language life for all. Greater part of the programme focuses on the language education broken down to the following topics:
The actions defined in the programmes aim to provide proper circumstances for pursuing activities and by that open access to learning and competence in languages, as well as improving communication skills of all citizens of the Republic of Slovenian of all ages for which will deem necessary for all relevant stakeholders to cooperate. The Resolution emphasises the importance of interaction with the reading literacy strategy.
In December 2019, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the National Strategy for the Development of Reading Literacy 2019–2030 (doc, sl).
The new strategy’s focus is on the reading literacy as the cornerstone of other literacies. An important part is the reading culture that embraces reading as a value in itself, and highlights the significance of the reading motivation.
The aim of the strategy 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.
The new strategy sets ambitious quantitative targets to achieve by 2030:
- at least 90% of 15-year olds, at the end of basic educaton, have attained the basic level of literacy as calculated by PISA, and
- at least 10% of them have attained the highest levels of reading literacy, the levels 5 and 6.
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia is responsible for the implementation of the strategy. It appointed the National Reading Literacy Council. Among other, the Council will monitor the implementation of the strategy, as specifed with the action plan. All relevant ministries, in cooperation with the Government, will allocate funds for the implementation, namely for activities proposed by the National Reading Literacy Council.
To realise separate goals, one plans to introduce further changes and amendments to the programme.
The Ministry responsible for education consulted the public in August 2021 on the draft National higher education programme 2021–2030 (sl).
The main objectives of the programme:
The Adult Education Master Plan 2013–2020 (sl) as of 2013 is a strategic developmental document with which Slovenia expressed the public interest and defined the national policy in adult education and training. At the same time, the plan provides the basis for tangible planning at the level of the state with annual programmes of adult education. It supports the systematic regulation of the field, helps to identify priorities and content related activities for the development of adult education, as well as to allocate public funds (state and ESF) by ministries that participate in joint planning.
The vision of the National Master Plan for Adult Education in the Republic of Slovenia is to provide all adults with equal opportunities for quality education at all stages of life.
In July 2021, the Ministry responsible for education consulted the public on the draft Resolution on the National adult education programme 2021–2030 (sl). The resolution specifies public interest in adult education that encapsulates the objectives and indicator of the national programme, priority areas in adult education, actions on the provision of adult education, scope of relevant funds, ministries as bodies responsible for individual actions, as well as manner of harmonisation during the realisation of objectives, and manner of monitoring the implementation of the programme. The national programme specifies respective programmes and activities of competent ministries that shall public service.
The public consultation followed the meeting in June and September 2020 organised by the Ministry responsible for education in its capacity of the national inter-ministerial coordinator for the adult education policy implementation. It consulted on the subject with 14 ministries involved in the development of the national master plan for adult education for the period from 2021 to 2030. In July 2020, it held a consultation meeting with stakeholders and social partners for the same purpose. The activities to support the development of the plan have started already in spring of 2019 when the Minister of education called out to other ministries, social partners, local communities, and other stakeholders to join the collaboration; it started the process of development the new national programme of adult education. Thus, Slovenia implemented the recommendation of the 2nd phase of OECD Skills strategy 2018. By summer, different actors at different stages held technical consultation and other meetings and discussions abut the new concept of basic school for adults (sl).
On 9 October 2020, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia held at high level and in cooperation with the OECD a virtual Skills summit – skills strategies for a world in recovery, organised by the Ministry responsible for education. Forty-two delegations of the OECD member states and world organisations such as UNESCO, Council of Europe, European Commission, discussed the impacts of the megatrends: globalisation, digitalisation, demographic changes, and impact of setting up sustainability, health and social wellbeing as consequences of pandemic for crisis on the development of skills and lifelong learning.
In terms of further development of education in the Republic of Slovenia, the following strategic documents are of significance, too:
In November 2020, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia apporved the Programme for children 2020-2015 (sl .pdf). The programme seeks to improve the well-being of children, creat equal opportunities and rights for all children, provide better protection and safety, as well as the foster inclusion and participation of children.
In January 2019, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia put forward for public discussion the draft new Resolution on the National Programme for Language Policy 2019–2023 (sl) to replace the previous programme that ended with 2018. In January 2021, one put to a new inter-ministarial coordination the Resolution on the national language policy programme 2021-2025.
In December 2017, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Slovenian Development Strategy 2030 (sl), It is the new long-term national development framework. Its primary objective is to ensure quality of life for all (“Slovenia, a country with high quality of life for all”). Future development of Slovenia rests on five strategic guidelines and twelve related goals. The strategy rests on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations as well, and so Slovenia attached the significance to sustainable and inclusive future in which the society as a whole can flourish.
In November 2015, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Resolution on the National Programme for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men 2015-2020 (sl).
Each coalition that constitutes the Slovenian Government in the co-operation agreement highlights also programme priorities related to education.
In January 2020, Mr Majan Šarec resigned as the prime minister of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.
The caretaker government pursued current bussiness until the new Government was formed on 13 March 2020. It is led by Mr Janez Janša.
Dr. Simona Kustec was appointed the new Minister of education, science and sport.
The coalition government: Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), Modern Centre Party (SMC), New Slovenia - Christian Democrats (NSi) and Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia (DeSUS) signed the coalition agreement.
The parties gave the covenant on actions planned for the education system from 2020 to 2022.
The actions include:
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, most of institutions of education for SEN children, all adult education organisations, universities, and independent higher education institutions, residential halls for basic school, upper secondary or higher education students, and music schools closed their doors and have remained closed on 16 March 2020. Education was provided in the form of distance learning.
With the improvement of the epidemiological situation the educational institutions started to open gradually their doors to students as of 18 May 2020. In the school year 2020/2021, the educational activities in kindergartens, and basic, music and upper secondary schools started on 1 September, as scheduled with the normal school calendar. You will find additional information about the COVID-19 related measures and actions in the following articles.
In the Republic of Slovenia, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia as the executive authority and top body of public administration develops legislation and other instruments with statutory authority, national programmes and other common documents that specify the principle and long-term political guidelines for specific areas (or individual members of the parliament, the National council of the Republic of Slovenia or a group of at least five thousand members of electorate). The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia has the authority to adopt or pass those draft instruments.
The National Assembly is the highest representative and legislative authority of the Republic of Slovenia. Its carries out the legislative function under which deputies adopt the most important national legislation. Laws are passed in a legislative procedure of several phases: from submitting draft law through tabling amendments to voting on the enactment or rejection, promulgating the law by the President of the Republic of Slovenia to publishing it in the official gazette.
The National Assembly has the authority to adopt new legislation that specify anew separate social areas or it may pass new laws to amend the social relation already established under law. The legislative procedure is regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia (en) and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly (sl).
The instruments enacted by the executive branch of government (Government, ministers) include decrees, ordinances, rules, orders, and instructions.
Support public institutes in education instituted by the state according to the Organisation and Financing of Education Act have an important role to play in the reform processes.
Their responsibilities and duties include:
In July 2021, the National school for leadership in education instituted in 1995 as an independent public institute for education and training of head-teachers became part of the National education institute Slovenia. The basic premise for the merger was the goal agreed with the coalition contract of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia 2020–2022. It encapsulates the idea of intensifying the role of the umbrella national institute in school education by merging other national institutions and thereby setting up an efficient, quality and comprehensive support system in education.
The other public institutes in education are Centre of the Republic of Slovenia for vocational education and training, Slovenian institute for adult education, Centre of the Republic of Slovenia for mobility and European education and training programmes, and the Slovenian school museum.