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

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 chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

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 Chapter 14.2.

In December 2023, the Act amending the Scholarship Act was published in the Official Gazette. See Chapter 14.2.

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 Chapter 14.2.

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 Chapter 14.2.

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 Chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

In September 2023, a group of Parliament members laid before the National Assembly the draft Act amending the Scholarship Act. See chapter 14.2.

In August 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules on promotion of education staff to titles. See chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

In April 2023, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Action plan of the Republic of Slovenia for child guarantee 2030. See chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

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 chapter 14.2.

2022

Modernisation of vocational education

In December 2022, the minister responsible for education issued a decision to appoint a working group to develop the National programme of education 2023–2033. See chapter 14.2.

In the scope of the Recovery and resilience plan, the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for vocational education and training started in June 2022 the “Modernisation of upper secondary vocational and technical education, including apprenticeship” project having the focus on digital, sustainable and specific vocational competences, improvement of financial literacy, flexibility, individualisation, and development of cooperation with employers. Steering the project is the expert group led by the secretary of state responsible for education. In seats representatives of ministries responsible for economy and labour, employers (chambers), trade unions, expert councils, vocational and technical schools, universities, as well as various professionals in vocational and technical education.

In June 2022, the minister responsible for education signed a decision to approve the “Analytical hub" project. The project runs on the recovery and resilience plan. The purpose of the project is to improve the system of assessing and assuring quality, and to cultivate the culture of data-driven operations and to develop data literacy. The goal of the project is to set up an analytical hub that will affiliate the network of institutions to assess and assure quality, and support data-driven education policy-making. There is €0.6 million in the recovery and resilience plan planned for the implementation in the period 2022 to 2026. The project contractor is the ministry responsible for education.

In April 2022, the minister responsible for education signed the decision to approve the “Modernisation of education programmes by modernising the key programme documents (kindergarten curriculum, subject-curricula, and knowledge catalogues)” project. It runs on the recovery and resilience plan. The purpose of the project is the modernisation of kindergarten curriculum, basic school and gimnazija subject-curricula, and knowledge catalogues for general subjects of upper-secondary vocational and technical education to include reasonably the digital competences and basic content of computer science and informatics, and sustainable development competences and financial literacy. In April, one appointed the curricular council to monitor and steer the modernisation. It met for the first time in August 2022. There is a total of roughly €4 m planned for the implementation in the scope of the recovery and resilience plan for the period of 2022 to 2025. The project operator is the National Education Institute Slovenia.

Other policy developments

In December 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted following the Decision of the Council of experts of the Republic of Slovenia for vocation education two programmes of upper secondary continuous education, namely Coordinator in cosmetics and wellness, and Developer of non-relational data.

In December 2022, the ministry responsible for education issued a public invitation to apply for grants to subsidize fees for the continuous education of education staff in the academic year 2022–2023. See chapter 14.2.

In November 2022, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act. It introduced among others the Senior Councillor as the fourth title in the field of education, thereby facilitating the career promotion of education staff. The background for the amendment was the 2018 strike agreement between the ministry responsible for education and the Education, science and culture trade union of Slovenia (SVIZ).

In November 2022, the ministry responsible for education issued a public call for applications for the training of education and leadership staff in education to improve competences in digital literacy, sustainable development, and financial literacy. See chapter 14.5.

In October 2022, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Healthcare Intervention Measures Act. It determined among others that the ministry responsible for health would earmark funds for grants for upper secondary and higher education students in programmes of health care activities. The granting authority would be the Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia which would issue a public call for applications for grants every school or academic year.

In October 2022, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted In October 2022, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Intervention Measures in Education Act. See chapter 14.2.

In September 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the Rules on promotion to titles of education staff. See chapter 14.2.

In September 2022, the minister responsible for education issued the Order to adopt the upper-secondary continuous education programme Health care technician – information operator, and it adopted amendments to the following upper-secondary education programmes:

• Upper secondary vocational education: Administrator, Bodywork repairer, Car mechatronic, Shop assistant.
• Upper secondary technical education: Economic technician, Logistics technician, Mechanical engineering technician.
• Upper secondary vocational-technical education: Car mechatronic technician, Economic technician, Logistics technician, Mechanical engineering technician.

All the listed programmes determined in the segment of the special part requirements that providers must fulfil in terms of knowledge and skills.

In August 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the School competition co-funding Rules. The amendments made provisions among others for the cost of material and equipment required for the implementation of the experimenting part of the competition to fall under the eligible cost of organising and administrating the selection competitions. As by the Rules, the ministry responsible for education, issued in September 2022 the public call for applications for co-funding selection school competitions in the school years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. The target of the public call was cofounding school competitions for basic school students in the field of foreign languages and biology; and in upper secondary schools, in the field of foreign language, technology, computer science and informatics, and history in the school years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. For this, one earmarked €100,000.

In July 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted several rules on the educational qualification of teachers and other education staff in adult education programmes, namely for programmes: English language, French, German, Italian, Hungarian, Initial integration of immigrants, Slovenian language literacy education for adult speakers of other languages, Slovenian as the second and foreign language, Computer literacy for adults, and Project learning for younger adults. The programmes are officially recognised but they do not lead to officially recognised educational qualification. According to the Adult Education Act, the competent minister shall define the field of the educational qualifications of education staff. The programmes are not new. When considering education staff, they sorted out the systemic placement of counseling service in adult education.

In July 2022, the National assembly adopted the Act on reducing imparity and harmful interference of politics and ensuring observance of rule of law. The Act affected the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (Article 46). The latter specified the composition of the council of public kindergartens and basic schools. It will now include three founder representatives, five staff representatives, and three parent representatives, the same as before the 2011 amendment. The council of vocational and technical schools, gimnazije in public residential homes for upper secondary student shall now include three founder representatives, five staff representatives, three parent representatives and two student representatives.

In July 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules on accommodation in residential facilities. It eliminated among other certain administrative barriers to enrolment of extra newcomers in residential homes for upper secondary students. Now, the minister does not have to consent to the enrolment due to higher demand compared to the supply of places for newcomers with the first call for application (before, minister had to consent every single place). It further made provision for the enrolment procedure to start after the enrolment in upper secondary schools ended. In this way, a student actually enrols in the school first and weighs the relevant options for living arrangements. The rules also specifies basic standards of living in residential homes. This further allows for a clearer differentiation between standard and beyond hall’s standard services.

In June 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted the Rules specifying the educational qualification of education staff and other staff in the vocational education programmes. The new rules resulted from the education programme expansions and modernisation based on the modersnisation of programme documents for a specific, instense practical implementation of certain education programmes (school estate, learning company). For this, categorisation was required in terms of education staff, and requirements they have to meet. The new rules incorporate education staff according to existing changes of support to children and youth with special educational needs, as well as placement of Slovenian sign language in education.

In April 2022, the Slovenian national assembly adopted the Student Status Act. Among other, it affected the Scholarship Act. Now, students enrolled for the first time in the programmes of short upper secondary vocational education, upper secondary vocational education, upper secondary technical or other professional education, and upper secondary general education – for which they are exercising the right to scholarship – can qualify for the scholarship regardless of their age (before the eligible candidates had to be first enrolled and of up to and including 22 years of age).

In accordance with amendments to the Gimnazija Act and the Vocational Education Act of July 2019 that specified the part-time studies, the minister responsible for education adopted in April this year the Rules on the call for applications and first enrolment in part-time studies of officially recognised upper secondary education programmes. It specified the procedure of consenting to the scope of a call for first enrolment, procedure of enrolment in part-time studies in officially recongised programmes of short upper secondary and upper secondary vocational, technical education, gimnazija, and vocational and matura courses in upper secondary schools, public organisations for adult education, and private educational organisations. It specified also the expression the first enrolment, namely it means the first enrolment of a candidate in the part-time studies of a programme at school; so, well defined when a school can count a candidate in the quota of enrolment places consented by the minister. In May, the minister responsible for education adopted the Instructions on how to adapt the part-time upper secondary education. The instructions include provisions applicable to the educational contract, interest activities in vocational and technical education, compulsory optional contents in general education, and active citizenship.

In March 2022, the Slovenian government adopted the Decree on the methods for ensuring rights of persons enjoying temporary protection. It specified among other the rights of persons under temporary protection to enrol in programmes of short upper secondary and upper secondary vocational education, upper secondary technical and general education, and short-cycle higher vocational education. The decision about the enrolment of candidates without any proof of previous educational qualification is with the relevant school that has to follow the recommendations developed for such cases by the National education institute Slovenia. Persons under temporary protection can enrol in education and study programmes also during or in the course of the school or academic year if the school has available places. If candidates apply to enrol in capped programmes, there can be places added to the call for enrolment. Basic school students under temporary protection have the right to free snack, lunch and transportation to and back from school. Upper secondary students have the right to free snack.

In February 2022, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Decree on co-funding practical lessons in agriculture and to qualify institutes and development centres in agriculture. The aim was to make provisions for improvement in equipment of educational institutions and research institutions in agriculture, forestry, veterinary and food science. This was agreed following an appeal to boost research and development and innovation in agriculture, economy and country. The Decree specified the co-funding material cost and cost of practical lessons in upper secondary schools, higher vocational colleges and faculties, as well as co-funding investment in provisions for institutes and development centres in agriculture, forestry, veterinary and food industry. The eligible costs for non-refundable funds: acquisition of devices, apparatus, machines, accessories and equipment to be used by beneficiaries for practical lessons and/or education in programmes of public education or development in fields listed in the public call for applications by the ministry of agriculture, forestry and food.

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic

In December 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted the decision to modify the general and vocational matura examinations in the school year 2022/2023. For the smooth provision of the winter term of vocational matura 2022/2023 or smooth matura examination, it determined modification of examination catalogues, administration of matura in two consecutive terms, determined modifications of subject examination catalogues, implementation of matura in two consecutive terms, nomination and structure of school examination committee, development of examination slips for oral part, grouping and communication to candidates about written exams, duties and responsibilities of supervision teachers, preparing the examination room, preparing candidates for written exams, oral exam, and exam in the fourth subject of the vocational matura.

In November 2022, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the act on urgent measures to contain the spread and mitigate the consequences of communicable COVID-19 disease in the field of health. See chapter 14.2.

In October 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted the Decision amending the Decision on emergency measures in personnel administration required for smooth operations of educational institutions. See chapter 14.2.

In August 2022, before the start of the school year, the minister responsible for education in cooperation with the National institute of public health issued the recommendations for leadership of educational institutions about what steps to take in case of the incidence of COVID-19 spread. The two-phase measures for responding are foreseen:

• Phase 1: in case of fast spreading SARS-COV-2 within all groups of citizens that would not involve severe illness that required hospitalisation, the key is to take basic hygienic measures, ventilation, self-testing of the sick, and exclusion from the group, self-protective behaviour, promotion of correct implementation of hygienic measures, in particular, learning the correct etiquette for hand and cough hygiene.
• Phase 2: in case of epidemiological situation worsening and fast spreading SARS-COV-2 that would involve severe illness that required hospitalisation, namely in such a substantial share that without public health measures an overstraining of the health system would take place, alongside consistent basic additional measures will apply: periodic self-testing of persons without symptoms, more intensive cleaning/disinfection, and several other measures with which the providers within given circumstances will increase physical distancing and decrease contacts among participants.

There was a consultative group appointed at the National institute of public health to monitor the situation of SART-CoV-2. The group prepared the document of instructions to the educational institutions on how to act in case of suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at the institution in the school year 2022/2023. The instructions apply to all institutions for preschool, basic school and upper secondary education, including residential halls for students with special educational needs and upper secondary students. The document includes detailed steps to take by the leadership.

In May 2022, the Slovenian government adopted the Ordinance repealing the Ordinance on the temporary measures for the prevention and control of infectious disease COVID-19. With it, it cancelled all temporary measures for the prevention and control for SARS-CoV-2 infections.

In May 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted the Decision amending the Decision on educational activities in public educational institutions in the school year 2021/2022. With it, the pursuit of educational activities according to the B model ceased to apply in basic and upper secondary schools. Schools will continue to observe the current epidemiological situation and take action as recommended by the National institute of public health.

In March 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted the Decision on the examination dates for final-year upper secondary students in the school year 2021/2022. It introduced an additional date for supplementary and resit examination for final year students, limitations for supplementary or remedial examination, date for establishing if the requirements for taking matura have been met, and for withdrawing the application.

In March 2022, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Ordinance on the temporary measures for the prevention and control of infectious disease COVID-19. It waived the condition for wearing facial coverings for basic school, upper secondary, higher education students and staff for the duration of implementing the education programme. The condition still applies for participants in practical lessons and work-based clinical training.

In February 2022, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the new Ordinance on the temporary measures for the prevention and control of infectious disease COVID-19. It waived the condition of recovered/vaccinated/tested proof in education, as well as doing self-tests in schools for both staff and students.

In January 2022, the minister responsible for education adopted Decision on winter term examination board composition 2021/2022 school year. It specified an amendment to the oral exam board in upper secondary schools in the 2021/2022 school year. The school exam board can now not include additional member alongside the president and examiner. The examiner can in exceptional circumstances and because of quarantine or self-isolation participate in the examination board online not necessarily face-to-face.