2025

Modernisation of vocational education

Developmental changes to the vocational matura

In February 2025, the Ministry of Education sent a draft Matura Act (predlog Zakona o maturi) for public consultation. The main changes to the draft law concern the possibility for upper secondary technical education and upper secondary vocational-technical education students to take the matura examination in five subjects, the abolition of the winter term of the vocational matura, and establishing equal opportunities for candidates who take the vocational matura examination in two parts and candidates who take the general matura examination in two parts.

The draft law provides, among other things, that students attending upper secondary technical education programmes and vocational-technical education programmes who complete their education with the vocational matura, in addition to the already established four-subject vocational matura, shall also be allowed to take the so-called five-subject matura, which includes the three subjects of the common part of the general matura, and shall be provided with appropriate preparation during their education. The vocational matura in its current form is being reformed to enable students to acquire a higher level of knowledge in general education subjects in order to be more successful at university or a single master's degree. The current vocational matura in four subjects remains unchanged and allows for the continuation of studies at tertiary level in short-cycle higher vocational programmes and higher education professional programmes.

Also, the draft law abolishes the winter term of the vocational matura. Until now, the law stipulated that the vocational matura would be taken in the spring, autumn and winter examination periods, and the general matura in the spring and autumn examination periods. Candidates taking the general matura were thus discriminated against in the current law compared to candidates taking the vocational matura, as they were not allowed to take the exam in winter term as well. The proposed August amendment thus equalizes the possibility for candidates taking the vocational matura and candidates taking the general matura to take the matura in two terms. Moreover, given that only a minority of candidates take the winter term for the first time, they do not constitute a valid reason for the vocational matura to be held in Slovenian schools and in the system as a whole in the winter. The abolition of the winter term of the vocational matura also does not deprive candidates of the possibility to continue their studies, as they have the possibility to take the matura in the spring and autumn terms, just like candidates for the general matura.

The proposed amendments to the law also level the playing field between candidates taking the vocational matura and those taking the general matura, in that if they take the matura in two parts, they both have the opportunity to improve the grades they obtained in the spring in the autumn term. Candidates taking the matura were previously able to improve a negative grade from the first part of the examination in the second part of the examination, whereas candidates taking the general matura who were granted the right to take the matura in two parts, in two consecutive examination periods, were also able to improve the grades obtained in the first part in the second part of the examination. The proposed solution thus equates the rights of candidates in the vocational matura with those of candidates in the general matura.

Financing education system

The main amendment to the draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) concerns the determination of the amount of funds for development and investments in the field of education and training, which are linked to the share of gross domestic product (GDP), namely 0.5%. See National reforms in school education.

Proposal for a one-stage appointment procedure of the head teacher 

The most important change in the procedure for appointing the headteacher or director proposed by the draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) is replacing the Minister’s opinion with the institution of consent. Thus, it became a one-stage procedure. See National reforms in school education.

Formalisation of the quality assessment and assurance framework 

The Government's draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) also establishes a proposed legal basis for a framework for quality assessment and assurance in education and training. See National reforms in school education.

Reforming school inspection

In January 2025, the Ministry of Education published a draft School Inspection Act (predlog Zakona o šolski inšpekciji). The draft law introduces a number of new features in the functioning of the school inspection. The main innovations are the introduction of systemic inspections and the provision of expert assistance. See National reforms in school education.

National Financial Literacy Programme

In January 2025, the Government adopted a new National Financial Literacy Programme (nov Nacionalni program finančnega opismenjevanja), which aims to improve financial literacy and responsible decision-making for all citizens through a multi-stakeholder approach. See National reforms in school education.

Other policy developments

Actions to strengthen digital competences and competences for sustainable development and financial literacy 

In February 2025, the Ministry of Education published the Call for Proposals "Experimental and Pilot Projects - Developing and Strengthening Competences for Sustainable Development and Financial Literacy" (Javni razpis »Eksperimentalni in pilotni projekti – Razvoj in krepitev kompetenc za trajnostni razvoj in finančno pismenost«). See National reforms in school education.

Provision of ICT equipment for educational institutions

In February 2025, the Ministry published a Call for Proposals for the provision of ICT equipment to educational institutions (Poziv k oddaji potreb vzgojno-izobraževalnih zavodov za dodelitev opreme informacijsko-komunikacijske tehnologije). See National reforms in school education.

Running an inter-company educational and training centre (MIC)

The draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) (ZOFVI) introduces, inter alia, a new post of head of the inter-enterprise training centre (MIC), appointed by the governing body. The head of the MIC is not a member of the education staff but will be able to be promoted to a professional title under a system comparable to that applicable to the director, head teacher and assistant head teacher, who are also not education staff under ZOFVI, but may be promoted to a professional title if they meet the conditions for promotion as laid down in the Regulations governing the promotion of professionals to professional titles in the field of education and training. 

Final exam and vocational matura

In February 2025, the Ministry of Education sent for inter-ministerial coordination the draft Rules on the final examination (predlog Pravilnika o zaključnem izpitu) and the draft Rules on the vocational matura (predlog Pravilnika o poklicni maturi). 

The changes introduced by the draft Rules on the final examination concern in particular the scope and structure of the final examination, the tasks of the school council and the remuneration of the education staff involved in the final examination. Under the proposal, members of the school's education staff involved in the preparation of the written part of the examination, examiners for the evaluation of the written part of the examination and mentors are entitled to remuneration in accordance with the criteria laid down by the Minister. The draft regulations now specifically define the tasks of the school council for the final examination and provide that the head teacher may also appoint an additional (fourth) member from the employers' side to the school council (previously, they could appoint one of the three members).

The draft Rules on the vocational matura (Predlog Pravilnika o poklicni maturi) defines, among other things, the tasks of the National Examination Centre and the Centre for Vocational Education (in addition to the tasks set out in the law) and introduces the matura coordination as a professional advisory body that may be appointed by the Minister. However, under the proposal, members of the school's education staff involved in the preparation of examination sets, examiners for the work of evaluating the written parts of the examinations and mentors for the fourth subject are entitled to remuneration in accordance with criteria to be laid down by the Minister.

Encouraging enrollment in education programmes for deficit occupations

In January 2025, the government adopted a new scholarship policy for deficit occupations for the next five-year period (2025-2029) (novo politiko štipendiranja za deficitarne poklice za naslednje petletno obdobje (2025–2029)), as the previous scholarship policy expired at the end of 2024. Deficit areas and educational programmes, as identified in the 2020-2024 scholarship policy, remain largely identified as deficit in view of labour market needs, with the exception of a few new ones that have been further identified as deficit. 

According to the scholarship policy, the Republic of Slovenia will provide funding for approximately 1000 new scholarships for deficit occupations each year in the years 2025-2029, or €1.23 million per year. To this amount should be added the funds for the payment of scholarships to all scholarship holders who meet the conditions for continuing to receive them, which means an additional amount of approximately €1.5 million per year, or more, as the scholarships are adjusted once a year to the increase in the cost of living.

The 2025-2029 period will largely maintain the same set of occupations as in the 2020-2024 Scholarship Policy, with the exception of Computer Technician, Graphic Technician, Computer Science Technician, Mechatronics Technician, Mechanical Technician, Electrical Technician, Chemical Technician, Mechanical Engineering Technician (DV) and Chemical Engineering Technician (DV). Newly added occupations include Environmental Technician, Rural Economist, Metallurgical Technician, Computer Technician (IS), Horticultural Technician, Car Technician (DV), Florist, Horticultural Technician, Mechanical Mechanic, Electrician (DV), Gastronomic Hotelier (IS)/Gastronomic and Hotel Services (IS), Bricklayer - Ceramic Tile Installer (DV), Geotechnical Miner, Gastronomic and Hotel Services (DV), Metalworker - Toolmaker (IS), Geotechnical Technician, Papermaker and Mechanical Installer (DV).

Actions to strengthen competences for sustainable development and financial literacy 

In February 2025, the Ministry of Education published the Call for Proposals "Experimental and Pilot Projects - Developing and Strengthening Competences for Sustainable Development and Financial Literacy" (Javni razpis »Eksperimentalni in pilotni projekti – Razvoj in krepitev kompetenc za trajnostni razvoj in finančno pismenost«). See National reforms in school education.

Abolition of the mechanism to ensure access to computer equipment

In February 2025, the Act amending the Act on the Promotion of Digital Inclusion (Zakon o spremembah Zakona o spodbujanju digitalne vključenosti) was published in the Official Gazette, abolishing the mechanism for providing access to computer equipment. See National reforms in school education.

Actions to reduce the shortage of education staff

The draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (Predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) introduces, among other things, changes that enable supplementary work for employees in educational institutions with the same employer, namely for a maximum of one fifth of working time for a fixed period of one year for an already employed employee. See National reforms in school education. 

In September and October 2024, the Ministry of Education amended the previously published Public Call for Applications for Scholarships to Students of Pedagogical Study Programmes in the 2024/2025 academic year (Javni razpis za dodelitev štipendij študentom pedagoških študijskih programov v študijskem letu 2024/2025). In November 2024 and January 2025, scholarships were awarded on this basis. See National reforms in school education.

In February 2025, the Ministry of Education prepared a draft Rules amending the Rules on traineeship of Education Staff (predlog Pravilnika o spremembi Pravilnika o pripravništvu strokovnih delavcev na področju vzgoje in izobraževanja). See National reforms in school education.

Incentives for professional development of education staff 

In March 2025, within the framework of the Public Call for Study Aids for Subsidising Tuition Fees for Further Education of Education Staff in the 2024/25 academic year (Javni razpis študijskih pomoči za subvencioniranje šolnin za nadaljnje izobraževanje strokovnih delavcev v študijskem letu 2024/25), the Ministry awarded subsidised tuition fees. See National reforms in school education.

In February 2025, the Ministry of Education published an invitation to apply for co-funding of the professional development programmes for the 2025/2026 school year (Javni razpis za izbor in sofinanciranje programov profesionalnega usposabljanja za šolsko leto 2025/26). See National reforms in school education.

The draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (Predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) introduces, among other things, the possibility of promotion for the education staff who have not been promoted so far, such as laboratory assistants or practical instructors. See National reforms in school education.

Amending the educational requirements for teachers 

In January 2025, the Ministry of Education sent for inter-ministerial coordination the draft Rules on educational qualification of teachers and other education staff in the vocational and technical education Pravilnik o izobrazbi učiteljev in drugih strokovnih delavcev v poklicnem in strokovnem izobraževanju). See National reforms in school education.

Supporting deafblind people in education

The draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (Predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja), among other things, establishes Slovenian sign language and the language of the deaf-blind as an official language in the education system. See National reforms in school education.

In December 2024 and again in March 2025, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities sent a draft Act on the Use of the Language of the Deafblind(predlog Zakona o uporabi jezika gluhoslepih) for inter-ministerial coordination. See National reforms in school education.

Transport for children and adolescents with special needs

The draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (Predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) introduces a provision on the provision of transport for children and adolescents with special needs from the state budget. See National reforms in school education.

Inclusion of Roma in the education system

In February 2025, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities published a Call for Proposals to co-finance a network of multi-purpose Roma+ centres (Javni razpis za sofinanciranje mreže večnamenskih romskih centrov+). See National reforms in school education

Amending the components of the education programme

The draft Act amending Organisation and Financing of Education Act (Predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) also contains provisions that change the components of educational programmes and constitute an interference with a specific part of the programmes. See National reforms in school education.

Changes to the competences of the institution's council

The draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja) proposes certain changes to the competences of the institution's council. See National reforms in school education. 

Status of approved textbooks in the approval procedures for new subject-curricula and knowledge catalogues

In February 2025, the Ministry drafted the Regulation amending the Regulation on the validation of textbooks (predlog Pravilnika o spremembi Pravilnika o potrjevanju učbenikov). See National reforms in school education.

2024

Modernisation of vocational education

Draft National Education Programme for 2023–2033

In July 2024, the relevant working group developed the final draft National Education Programme for 2023–2033 (končni predlog Nacionalnega programa vzgoje in izobraževanja za obdobje 2023–2033). In secondary vocational education and training, the aim is to evaluate the structure and purpose of secondary vocational education and training programmes emphasising short secondary and upper secondary vocational education. The evaluation should determine which programmes still focus primarily on preparing students for occupation and employment, and for which programmes it would be sensible to strengthen their general educational and pre-vocational objectives. The final draft defines upper secondary educational qualification as a national standard, which means, the state should enable all to acquire at least upper secondary educational qualification anytime in life. For more information see Chapter National reforms in school education.

Amendment to the enrolment in upper secondary programme

In August 2024, the Ordinance on the selection criteria for upper secondary vocational education, technical education and gimnazija programmes with a set cap on enrolment (Odredba o merilih za izbiro kandidatov v primeru omejitve vpisa v programe srednjega poklicnega izobraževanja, srednjega strokovnega izobraževanja ter gimnazij) was published in the official gazette. candidates will be allotted a place based on the sum of final marks in all compulsory subjects of grades 7 to 9 (up to 60% of the total) and the achievement in the national examination in the language of instruction (Slovenian or Italian or Hungarian in nationally mixed areas) and mathematics (each up to 20%). A special formula will be applied to calculate the total percentages for allotting a place. The new criteria also apply to the enrolment in programmes for which candidates must pass an aptitude test, and the latter results shall be considered an additional criterion. It follows the Act amending the Vocational and technical education Act that allows for outcomes of the national examination to be considered as a criterion for enrolment in upper secondary school(Zakon o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o poklicnem in strokovnem izobraževanju).

Amendment to the vocational matura

In May 2024, the Ministry of Education published Rules amending the vocational matura Rules (Pravilnik o spremembah in dopolnitvah Pravilnika o poklicni maturi). Amendments are dictated by the amended law on matura as provisions of the Rules must be harmonised with the solutions of the amended Matura Act (novela Zakona o maturi). The latter defines the right to take matura examination in two parts. Previously, the law did not specify this right and the exercising of it completely which the Public Administration Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia also established. The amended law now clearly defines who can exercise the right to take the matura examination in two parts, what are justifiable reasons, what authorities decide on the right, and what are the terms and decision-making methods. The amended Rules, consequently, define in greater detail the required evidence to support the exercise of the right as referred to in Article 27 of the Act. The amendment applies further to the Articles defining the conditions and deregistration from the vocational matura examination.

Improved support for the inclusion of migrant students

In June 2024, the Act amending the Vocational and Technical Education Act (Zakon o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o poklicnem in strokovnem izobraževanju) was published in the official gazette. It made further provisions for the Slovenian language course for students whose home language is not Slovenian; students who have not completed basic education in Slovenia or students who started basic education in grade 9 for the first time in Slovenia. In practice, it was shown that students who entered basic education in Slovenia in grade 9, failed to reach proficiency in Slovenian needed to do well in upper secondary education.

Establishing the rights of students in work-based training

By the Act amending the Vocational and Technical Education Act (Zakon o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o poklicnem in strokovnem izobraževanju) published in June, the employers must provide meals or relevant financial compensation to students during their work-based training. It gives a legal framework for the inspection responsible for labour to act for students in work-based training.

Other policy developments

Reform of the wage system

In November 2024, representatives of the government and public sector unions signed collective agreements or annexes to contracts and agreements, which form the basis for the reform of the wage system. See National reforms in school education.

Strengthening the mental health of children and adolescents

In December 2024, the Ministry of Health launched the Call for Proposals "Development of a programme to overcome anxiety in children and adolescents" (Javni razpis »Razvoj programa za premagovanje anksioznosti otrok in mladostnikov«), which aims to create supportive environments to promote mental health in the family, kindergartens, schools and programmes to prevent the development of mental disorders. See National reforms in school education.

Proposed amendments to the requirements for leaders of inter-company educational and training centres

In May 2024, the Ministry of Education published the draft Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (predlog Zakona o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o organizaciji in financiranju vzgoje in izobraževanja). It specified, among others, the requirements for educational qualification for leaders of inter-company educational and training centres, and further specified the appointment of the director of public school. For more information see National reforms in school education.

Transition between education and social care for education staff

In June 2024, the Ministry of Education published the draft Rules on the procedures and requirements for titles of education staff in social-care institutions when employed in the field of education (predlog Pravilnika o postopku in pogojih za pridobitev naziva strokovnih sodelavcev in strokovnih delavcev socialnovarstvenih zavodov ob zaposlitvi na področju vzgoje in izobraževanja. For more information see National reforms in school education.

Alleviating shortages of education staff

In June 2024, the Ministry of Education opened an invitation to apply for a study aid to subsidise fees for continuous education of education staff in the 2024/2024 academic year (Javni razpis študijskih pomoči za subvencioniranje šolnin za nadaljnje izobraževanje strokovnih delavcev v študijskem letu 2024/25). For more information see National reforms in school education.

In April 2024, the Ministry of Education advertised traineeship posts in schools for the 2024/2025 year (Javni razpis pripravniških mest v šolah za leto 2024/25). For more information see 14.2.

Supporting excellence

In June 2024, the Minister responsible for labour, family, social care and equal opportunities adopted the Rules amending the Zois scholarships Rules (Pravilnik o spremembah in dopolnitvah Pravilnika o dodeljevanju Zoisovih štipendij). For more information see National reforms in school education.

In May 2024, the Ministry of Education invited to apply for co-funding selection and interest school competitions in the 2024/2025 school year (Javni razpis za sofinanciranje selekcijskih in interesnih šolskih tekmovanj v šolskem letu 2024/2025). For more information see National reforms in school education.

In April 2024, the Ministry of Education published the draft Rules amending the Rules on the Slovenian language course for upper secondary students (predlog Pravilnika o dopolnitvah Pravilnika o tečaju slovenščine za dijake v srednjih šolah). For more information see National reforms in school education.

In March 2024, the minister responsible for education issued the Rules on criteria and standards of knowledge for non-formal adult education programmes for learning Slovenian. It set criteria and standards for learning the Slovenian language at a breakthrough level to extend residence permits for family reunification, including knowledge standards for a mandatory test of Slovenian language proficiency at a breakthrough level. The objectives of the non-formal Slovenian language learning programmes are to develop skills of very basic communication in the most predictable and repetitive situations, which corresponds to the Pre-A1 and A1 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or survival in a new local environment.

In March 2024, based on the resolutions of the relevant council of experts, the minister responsible for education issued the Order to adopt the Let’s learn about the power of nature – Development of knowledge of and skills in environment and sustainability adult education programme and the Order to adopt the Understanding health – Path to a healthy lifestyle adult education programme.

In February 2024, the Ministry of Education published the draft Rules amending the School competition co-funding Rules (https://e-uprava.gov.si/si/drzava-in-druzba/e-demokracija/predlogi-predpisov/predlog-predpisa.html?id=15918). See National reforms in school education.

In February 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food issued the Public call for applications for co-funding of material costs and costs of services of practical training. It is aimed at upper secondary students, students at higher vocational colleges, and higher education institutions, as well as at co-funding investment in institutes of agri-food processing, forestry, veterinary, and food. The amount of the grant funds amounts to €168,010.

In February 2024, the Agreement amending the Strike Agreement, signed between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Education, Science, and Culture Trade Union of Slovenia (SVIZ) was published in the Official Gazette. See National reforms in school education.

In February 2024, Annex H to the Collective Agreement for the Education Sector in the Republic of Slovenia was published in the Official Gazette. It was concluded by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and representative trade unions in education and higher education. See National reforms in school education.

In February 2024, the Government adopted the Action Plan on Drugs for 2024–2025. See National reforms in school education.

In February 2024, the Decision establishing posts in kindergartens, schools, and educational institutions for SEN children and youth where public sector employees are entitled to an allowance under item 8 Article 39 of the Collective agreement for the public sector was published in the Official Gazette. See National reforms in school education.

In January 2024, following the resolution of the relevant council of experts, the minister responsible for education adopted the Order to adopt the renewed Cosmetics technician and Cosmetics technician (SI) education programmes. The revised programmes will start in the 2024/2025 school year.

2023

Modernisation of vocational education

Tasks outlined in the 2021–2024 Action plan for incorporating Slovenian sign language into preschool and school education were completed in 2023. See National reforms in school education.

In the scope of the project to modernise the education programmes and key programme documents most curricular commissions were appointed. See National reforms in school education.

In December 2023, the Curricular council, which was set up to monitor and guide the modernisation of the education programme, approved the document of common goals and their incorporation in the subject-curricula and knowledge catalogues. See National reforms in school education.

In December 2023, the relevant council of experts adopted the background document for the modernisation of knowledge catalogues for general education subjects in vocational and technical education. Among others, it highlighted broader reflections on the role of general education subjects in vocational and technical education, emphasized the specifics of individual levels, and defined the principles for designing knowledge catalogues and the incorporation of common goals. The second part outlined the guidelines for the development of knowledge catalogues, along with guidelines for developing didactic recommendations, and the recommendations for assessment and marking of knowledge.

In November 2023, the Government adopted the Strategy for the Integration of Non-European Union Nationals into the Cultural, Economic, and Social Life of the Republic of Slovenia. See section 14.2.

In August 2023, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Strategy and Action plan for the greening of public educational and research infrastructure. See National reforms in school education.

In June 2023, the ministry responsible for family, social matters and equal opportunities laid before the Government the draft draft Resolution on the national programme for equal opportunities of women and men until 2030. See National reforms in school education.

In March 2023, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for digital transformation developed the Digital Slovenia 2030 strategy. See chapter 14.5.

In March 2023, the ministry responsible for labour, family, social matters and equal opportunities released to public consultation the draft Resolution on the national programme of prevention of domestic violence and violence against women. See National reforms in school education.

Other policy developments

In December 2023, the Public call for co-funding the status rights of athletes in the education system for the year 2024 (https://www.uradni-list.si/glasilo-uradni-list-rs/vsebina/2023013100001/javni-razpis-za-sofinanciranje-statusnih-pravic-sportnikov-vkljucenih-v-vzgojno-izobrazevalni-sistem-za-leto-2024-st--6712-4020232-ob-363323) was published in the Official Gazette. See National reforms in school education.

In December 2023, the Act amending the Scholarship Act was published in the Official Gazette. See National reforms in school education.

In December 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted the Order adopting the amendment to the vocational and technical education programmes.

The amendment applies to the following upper secondary education programmes:

• Vocational: Electrician and Mechatronic operator
• Technical: Electrotechnician, Technician of electronic communications, Mechatronic technician
• Vocational-technical: Electrotechnician and Mechatronic technician

It introduced changes under item 3 of the special part of the programme – knowledge of providers. Other programme components stay unchanged.

In December 2023, the Ministry of Education issued the Public call for applications for funding the training of mentors to provide work-based training in the education programmes in the years 2023–2026. It aims to contribute to the improvement of the education and training system's responsiveness to labour market needs by enhancing the competences of mentors in companies, and consequently strengthening the cooperation between the education system and the labour market. The goal is to reduce the mismatch between the competences acquired by students during their education and the competences sought by employers, thereby enabling a smoother transition from education to the labour market. It is planned to train 3,900 mentors in companies. The public call is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The total amount of funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility available until 2026 is €1,444,000.00.

In November 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the Rules on the teaching certification examination. See section 14.2.

In October 2023, the Ministry of Education issued the Public call "Basic Competences 2023–2029" partially funded by the European Union from the European Social Fund Plus. The subject of the call is the co-funding of the implementation of education programmes for adults to acquire basic competences. Participants join the programmes based on their needs and their current life situation. The aim is to increase adult participation in lifelong learning and to improve competences to meet the labour market needs, increase employability and mobility, and personal development for coping with and responding to technological, demographic, and climate changes in modern society. The total provisional value of available funds amounts to up to €37,000,000.00, with co-funding planned by individual programme areas and fiscal years.

In October 2023, the Ministry of Education published draft amendment to the following rules on:

• methods of funding education programmes of bilingual school
• methods of funding education programmes and the behaviour-related education programme in upper secondary education
• methods of funding education programmes of upper secondary schools with the Italian language of instruction
• norms of funding higher vocational colleges

See National reforms in school education.

In September 2023, the minister responsible for education and training adopted the new Rules on the criteria and methods for the valuation of material expenses in educational institutions for children with special needs. See National reforms in school education.

In September 2023, the Public call for the co-funding of the "Modernization of Computer Networks in Educational Institutions" project within the Recovery and Resilience Plan was published in the Official Gazette. See National reforms in school education.

In September 2023, the Act Determining the Intervention Measures to Remedy the Consequences of the Floods and Landslides in August 2023 was published in the official gazette. See National reforms in school education.

In September 2023, a group of Parliament members laid before the National Assembly the draft Act amending the Scholarship Act. See National reforms in school education.

In August 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules on promotion of education staff to titles. See National reforms in school education.

In July 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted rules relevant to the changes in norms and standards for basic and upper secondary schools. See National reforms in school education.

Amended norms and standards of implementing education programmes for SEN children relate to pursuing by analogy the amendments proposed to basic schools and upper secondary schools also to amended obligation within educational activities and number of preschool teachers in an individual group, classification of the new posts teacher and preschool teacher to communicate with students in the Slovenian sign language, and teacher and preschool teacher to pursue activities with deaf blind, a more favourable requirement for the classification of carers, norm for setting up classes of only children with serious or severe intellectual disabilities, and new criteria for setting up classes for mobile service of the mobile team.

In June 2023, the Act amending the Act on Organisation and Financing of Education was published in the offical gazette. See National reforms in school education.

In May 2023, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the draft Act amending the Act on Special Rights in Education of the Italian and Hungarian National Communities. See National reforms in school education.

In April 2023, the Collective Agreement for Trade and Entrepreneurship. It determined the awards for upper secondary and higher education students in practical training. During work-based training or during compulsory practical training, under the collective agreement upper secondary and higher education students are entitled to the monthly full-time working time award in the amount:

Upper secondary students:

• year – min €90
• year – min €120
• year – min €150
• year – min €150

Higher education students: min €190.

In April 2023, the Order to amended the Order to co-fund practical lessons in agriculture and to upgrade the institutions and development centres in agriculture. With it, the applicants that pursue activities of public educational institutions, public research institutions, and public higher education institutions (also the ones with concession) accredited for implementing officially recognised study programmes in agro-food science, forestry, veterinary and food science became eligible for co-funding. It also provided for an increase in the percentage of co-funding for the upgrade of institutions and research centres in agriculture, forestry and food science, namely from the current 50 to 75% of the investment’s acceptable cost. The highest amount of funds increased from €50,000 to €75,000.

In April 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the Rules on additional professional and physical assistance for SEN children. See National reforms in school education.

In April 2023, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Action plan of the Republic of Slovenia for child guarantee 2030. See National reforms in school education.

In March 2023, the ministry responsible for education advertised the Call for the selection and co-funding of professional development programmes for the 2023/2024 school year. See National reforms in school education.

In March 2023, the ministry responsible for education advertised the Call for applications for traineeship posts in schools for the 2023/2024 school year. See National reforms in school education.

In March 2023, the In March, the Strike Agreement between the Government of the Republic and the Education, Science and Culture Trade Union of Slovenia was publiseh in the official gazette. See National reforms in school education.

In February 2023, the ministry responsible for education issued a public call for applications for scholarships for students in initial teacher education study programmes for the academic year 2023/2024. See chapter 14.4.

In February 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted the modernised education programmes and the new education programme:

• Modernised programmes of upper-secondary vocational, technical and vocational-technical education (Computer operator, Computer technician, Logistics technician, Laboratory biomedicine technician, Dental prosthetics technician, Glassmaking technician)
• Confectioner, new education programme.

The relevant programmes were renovated following the revised vocational standards; the new education programme is modified to the provision in schools with a Slovenian medium of instruction in an ethnically mixed area of Slovenian Istria.

In February 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the Rules on the teaching certification examination, the Rules amending the Rules on the selection and co-funding of continuing education and training programmes for education staff, and three rules for education in ethnically mixed areas. See National reforms in school education.