All kindergartens and schools have an in-house counselling service. It is tasked to take part in addressing pedagogical, psychological, and social issues. Their main responsibility is to comprehensively address the educational, psychological, and social challenges faced by children in kindergartens or schools. They cooperate with all in the learning process, parents, and if necessary, with relevant outside institutions. They help individuals and groups support the optimal development of all children, regardless of their circumstances or their socio-economic or cultural backgrounds. The post of a counsellor is open to professionals qualified as psychologists, pedagogues, social workers, special and rehabilitation pedagogues, and inclusive pedagogues.

Definition of the target group(s)

The rules specify groups of children and students eligible for assistance or special measures given their personal, socio-economic or cultural backgrounds:

• Members of the Italian and Hungarian national communities have the right to education in their mother tongue and the provision of education in ethnically mixed areas. Rights are specified in detail by the relevant act on the special rights of members of the Italian and Hungarian national communities
• Members of the Roma community are specified as a special group with special rights defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia. The special rights are specified by the Roma Community in the Republic of Slovenia Act and, in education, by the Kindergarten Act and Basic School Act
• Migrants or foreigners, as defined by the Strategy to include children and student migrants in education and training 2007, the migrant students may be divided into several groups:
  • Former migrants with Slovenian citizenship
  • Persons without Slovenian citizenship but with a permanent or temporary residence permit
  • Asylum seekers and persons under international protection
  • Citizens of EU member states
  • Children of Slovenian workers abroad or emigrants (with or without Slovenian citizenship) who returned to Slovenia.

Children of foreign citizens residing in Slovenia have the right to basic and upper secondary education under the same conditions as their peers of Slovenian citizenship. The same applies to citizens of other EU member countries, Slovenians without Slovenian citizenship, and refugees.

The principle of reciprocity applies to foreign citizens. The law specifies the right of access to the Slovenian education system for migrant students. See chapter 15.

• Students with learning difficulties with the adapted provision of the Basic School Act
• Children in hospital care may attend preschool and basic school education in a hospital, as specified by the relevant law
• Disadvantaged children, in line with education objectives specified by the Organisation and Financing of Education Act, receive support and assistance provided by kindergartens or schools.

Specific support measures

Members of the Italian and Hungarian national communities

The medium of instruction at kindergartens and schools for members of the Italian national community residing in ethnically mixed areas in Slovenian Istria is Italian. The Slovenian language is a school subject.

In Prekmurje, where members of the Hungarian ethnic community live alongside the majority Slovenian population, the provision of kindergartens and schools is parallel, with services offered in both Slovenian and Hungarian (bilingual).

Schools outside ethnically mixed areas must organise Italian or Hungarian language instruction for students who are members of the Italian or Hungarian national community, but only if at least five students decide to attend.

Education programmes are adapted (timetables, subject-curricula, knowledge catalogues).

Schools issue bilingual certificates and other documents.

Two preschool teachers attend a kindergarten group 6 hours per day, concurrently.

Given the adapted timetable (an additional subject), students' weekly workload may increase by 2 hours compared to mainstream schools.

In basic and upper bilingual secondary schools, the organisation of classes and groups is subject to more favourable norms and standards than in mainstream schools.

In the first three grades of bilingual basic schools, two teachers are present at all times, one speaking Slovenian and the other Hungarian.

In schools where Italian is the medium of instruction, students and teachers use Italian-language textbooks and other learning materials. In bilingual Hungarian-Slovenian schools, textbooks and other learning materials are used in both Hungarian and Slovenian. Funding for development and for subsidising textbook and learning material prices is allocated by the state.

Members of the Roma community

Regular system actions for better inclusion of Romani students in the educational process are:

• Co-funding activities in basic school education
• Funding for material costs for Romani students
• Co-funding the work of Romani assistants
• Co-funding activities in preschool education.

The most important recent measure was the classification of the Romani assistant post. In the 2021/2022 school year, the first Romani assistants assumed their positions in kindergartens and/or schools. They are tasked among others with:

• Assisting children to overcome emotional and language barriers
• Establishing and maintaining contact with parents
• Cooperating with education staff in activities for better interaction between Romani and other children
• Cooperating with education staff in developing and undertaking actions for improved outcomes for Romani children
• Undertaking activities for parents and children in the environment in which they live
• Promotion of education within the Romani community.

In 2025, the Council of Experts for General Education adopted the Programme Document for the Work of Roma Assistants in Educational Institutions, which defines their role, tasks and required competencies, and establishes a framework for the inclusion of Roma children in the educational process, their academic and social development, and the promotion of respect for Roma culture within the school environment.

The so-called multifunctional centres, as contact points for various educational and other activities for Romani families, are essential sources of support. Currently, seven such centres are operating in Slovenia.

In 2021, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the National Programme of Measures for Roma from 2021 to 2030. This programme document sets out key goals and actions to improve the socio-economic situation of the Romani community and its members, foster better social inclusion, and empower them. Among other objectives, it aimed to increase the inclusion of Romani children in preschool education, facilitating their path to completing basic education and continuing education.

In the same year, after the relevant council of experts had been briefed on it, the minister responsible for education approved the Strategy for the Education of Romani from 2021 to 2030.

To support leadership and education staff in kindergartens, the relevant council of experts adopted an appendix to the Kindergarten curriculum on activities with Romani children and guidelines for providing basic schooling for Romani students.

Integration of Roma children into kindergartens:

• The majority is placed in regular classes
• Kindergartens organise a group for Roma children only, or
• Educational units are set up in settlements of Roma communities.

The child-to-adult ratio in kindergarten groups, including Roma children, is more favourable (ages 1–4: 1 child per 1 adult; ages 2–7: 1 child per 1 adult).

Roma culture is one of the optional subjects in basic school.

In basic schools, norms and standards for organising classes with at least three Roma students are more favourable than those for regular classes (max. 21 students). In grade 1, two teachers stay in a class to deliver lessons for a longer period.

Basic schools may employ an additional teacher or school counsellor to provide Roma children with additional learning support and other assistance. Schools with more than 45 Roma students can employ two extra members of the education staff.

Students with learning difficulties

Basic schools adapt teaching methods and materials to individual students; students may receive remedial lessons and other individual or group support.

In 2008, the Council of Experts for General Education adopted 2008 the teaching concept of “Learning difficulties in basic schools”. The document determined five levels of assistance:

1. Assisting teachers in lessons, remedial lessons and after-school classes
2. Assisting throug the counselling service
3. Additional individual and group assistance
4. Seeking opinion and assistance from the external professional institution
5. Providing the programme of modified implementation and additional professional support.

Schools can modify the undertaking of obligations for talented students; students as prospective sportsmen; students preparing to participate in international competitions in knowledge or other international education, sports, or cultural events or exchanges; newly arrived foreign students; and students in other rationalised situations. Schools structure modifications through the personal educational plan, in which they, in cooperation with the student and parents, determine the modified classes, rights, and obligations.

Upper secondary schools may extend the status of upper-secondary students for up to two years for individuals in parallel programmes, top sportsmen, students who fail to complete a year or discontinue education due to early parenthood, and for longer or frequent absences for health reasons.

Migrants (foreigners)

In 2024, the new Guidelines for the Inclusion of Children, Pupils and Upper-Secondary Students from Different Linguistic and Cultural Backgrounds in the Slovenian Education System were published. The Guidelines emphasise flexibility in organising inclusion and in working with migrant children and students, as well as the differentiation and individualisation of the learning process. They include concrete recommendations and activities for working with students at the pre-primary, primary, and secondary levels.

In pre-school, primary, lower secondary, upper secondary and higher education, refugees have equal status to Slovenian citizens.

Teachers in kindergartens implement activities according to the relevant curriculum to improve the speaking competences of children whose mother tongue is not Slovenian.

Individuals under temporary protection under 18 years of age have, by the relevant law, the right under the same conditions and requirements as they apply to Slovenians to inclusion and completion of short upper-secondary and upper-secondary vocational and general education to attain an officially recognised qualification in public and private schools that receive public funds.

To help integrate and undertake activities with children and young people who come from a war zone and require help in integrating into kindergartens and schools, and to create an inclusive environment in which they can learn to respect diversity, teachers can find help in the Guidelines for the integration of children and young people under temporary protection in educational institutions.

Parents under temporary protection are entitled to apply for a reduction in the amount of payment parents make for kindergarten (subvention), subject to the conditions that apply to foreigners under the relevant laws on kindergartens and on rights to public funds. Parents under temporary protection who are entitled to financial aid or an allowance are not required to pay for kindergarten.

Schools organise Slovenian classes or courses for students whose first language is not Slovenian and for migrant students upon inclusion.

In agreement with parents, basic schools may adapt teaching methods, assessment dates, and the number of grades to the needs of migrant students. Teachers may assess knowledge based on the student's progress. The adjustment measures apply to two school years. At the end of the school year in which a pupil was first enrolled in a basic school in the Republic of Slovenia, he or she may progress to a higher grade even if they did not receive final marks in all subjects.

In upper secondary education, the subject-curriculum of the Slovenian language for foreign students was adopted, as well as the rules on the organisation and implementation of the intensive course of Slovenian and additional lessons in Slovenian for upper secondary students whose home language is not Slovenian or who had not completed basic education in the Republic of Slovenia.

Students seeking asylum are entitled to a free school meal and may borrow textbooks from the school textbook fund at no cost.

For several years, in agreement with the country of origin, the Ministry of Education has supported the provision of basic remedial classes in the respective home language and culture for children residing in Slovenia whose mother tongue is not Slovenian.

The state allocates funds for foreigners to learn Slovenian in regular basic and upper-secondary education, and under certain requirements for lessons in the first language, which is not the medium of instruction.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a web portal with information for foreign nationals to learn about life and work in Slovenia and all other information about free courses in the Slovenian language and Slovenian history, culture and constitutional arrangement for third-country nationals.

Migrant children also receive support from associations and other non-governmental organisations. For example, Slovene Philanthropy established two programmes for migrants: one to support integration and one for Young migrants. The programmes provide psychosocial support, help in integration, advocacy, foster care for underage unaccompanied children, and others.

Children in hospital care

Education and lessons in hospitals are provided in smaller groups or individually.

In hospital preschool classes, the education staff implements the mainstream kindergarten curriculum.

The basic school education programme in hospital school classes is extended to include supportive relaxation or therapeutic activities that help prevent the negative consequences of hospitalization and enable children to better cope with the disease during their stay in the hospital.

The norm for setting up basic school classes in hospitals is 12 students if they can move and 6 students if they are on bed rest.

Education staff in hospital classes collaborate with doctors and other medical staff, as well as parents and the relevant kindergartens or schools.

Teachers of hospital classes submit a pedagogical report to the respective school and provide recommendations on how to continue educational work after discharge from the hospital.

In agreement with the student’s principal school and individual plan, the hospital organises and provides individual learning support to students, as well as other forms of education and counselling.

Education in hospital classes is organised according to the Concept of education of students in hospital care that was approved by the Council of experts of the Republic of Slovenia for general education in 2013.

Children from a lower socio-economic background

Children whose parents submit a statement of social vulnerability of the family, issued by the social work centre, have priority in admission to kindergartens.

Counselling service at a kindergarten or school assists in identifying and providing possible support and assistance to the family of the child or student (e.g. assistance in locating scholarships, resolving financial issues, organizing learning space at a school, providing school textbooks and learning aids, organizing and coordinating additional assistance to children whose parents are unable to provide the necessary support, etc.).

Schools may organise individual or group assistance.

A kindergarten and a school cooperate with the competent social work centre.

Students can apply for income-related meal subsidies (price decreased or free). Students in foster settings have the right to free snacks, and basic school students to free lunch, as well.

Upper-secondary students can apply for state-subsidised transportation tickets.

Parents with more than one child enrolled in residence halls for upper-secondary students can apply for co-funding payment by parents.