2023

Modernisation of vocational education

In February, the ministry responsible for equal opportunities put up for inter-ministerial coordination the draft Resolution on the national programme for equal opportunities of women and men until 2030. See chapter 14.2.

In January, the Service of the Republic of Slovenia for digital transformation developed the draft Digital Slovenia 2030 strategy. See chapter 14.5.

Modernisation of adult education

In February, the ministry responsible for equal opportunities put up for inter-ministerial coordination the draft Resolution on the national programme for equal opportunities of women and men until 2030. See chapter 14.2.

In January, the Service of the Republic of Slovenia for digital transformation developed the draft Digital Slovenia 2030 strategy. See chapter 14.5.

Other policy developments

In February, 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, 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, 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.

In January 2023, the minister responsible for education adopted the new Rules on standards and norms for funding and provision of programmes and activities for adults. It specified norms and standards for placing value on officially recognised education programmes for adults which do not lead to officially recognised educational qualification; non-formal education programmes for adults, study programmes for training and continuous education, methodology for placing value to other activities as specified by the Adult Education Act, and standards for rooms and equipment for the provision of officially recognised programmes for adults which lead to officially recognised educational qualifications. The Rules specified the up to now undetermined field of funding the programmes and activities of adult education when it goes for public funding.

Modernisation of vocational education

In December, 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 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, 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, 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.

Modernisation of adult education

In May, the minister responsible for education signed the decision to approve the “Financial literacy for adults” project. It runs in the scope of the Economic recovery plan. The project aims to analyse the situations in adult education and develop two new officially recognised programmes of financial literacy for adults that would become the cornerstones for the provision of financial literacy for adults.

In April, 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 so as to include reasonably the digital competences and basic content of computer science and informatics, and sustainable development competences and financial literacy. It will include the modernisation of basic school programme for adults. 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.

In March, the National Assembly adopted the new Resolution on the National Programme of Adult Education in the Republic of Slovenia 2021–2030. It articulates the vision of all adult citizens of Slovenia in all lifecycles having the same opportunities and incentives for quality learning and education for full development and sustainable living.

Objectives of the resolution are:

• More adults in lifelong learning
• Improve basic skills and knowledge of adults
• Raise the level of educational qualification
• Improve the skills of citizens for a successful responding to the labour market demands
• Facilitate the development and research in adult education, and
• Improve and strengthen the activity in adult education (guidance in adult education, assessment and recognition of knowledge of adults, training and upskilling of education staff and trainers for adults, auditing and developing quality, raising awareness, providing information, and promoting inclusion of adults in lifelong learning, as well as information activity).

Other policy developments

In December, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the annual adult education programme 2023. It is accordant with the Resolution on the National programme of adult education in the Republic of Slovenia for 2022 to 2030. It determined the goals and indicators of the national programmes, priority areas, actions for providing adult education, the provisional scope of relevant public funds, and ministries responsible for individual actions. It also determined the monitoring and supervision. The annual programmes for 2023 foresaw €48,897,252.02 of which €11.7 mio funds of the ministry responsible for education. Groups of adults targeted by the annual programme:

• Adults with low basic skills in terms of employability, age or other characteristics
• Adults who need to improve their general education for personal needs and respond to the challenges of the community
• Adults who need to continue vocational or professional education and training in line with the labour market needs
• Young adults who leave education and training early or dropouts
• Adults over 65 years of age
• Adults with limited access to social, cultural, economic and educational goods.

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

In September, 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, 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 August, the minister responsible for education issued several orders to adopt adult education programmes, namely:

• Challenges of rural life
• Workplace
• Reading and writing together
• Let us stirr up our lives with learning
• Bridge to education
• My step, and
• Digital literacy for adults.

In the officially recognised education programmes for adults, learners acquire and improve literacy and basic skills, as well as improve general knowledge.

In July, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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 prevention and control for SARS-CoV-2 infections.

In May, 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 pursuing 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 actions as recommended by the National institute of public health.

In March, 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, 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, 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, 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 examination board online not necessarily face-to-face.  

2021

Modernisation of vocational and technical education

The Government of the Republic of Slovenian adopted in April 2021 the Recovery and resilience plan (sl). The Ministers EU approved it end of July 2021. It includes several projects to support the process of modernisation of upper secondary vocational education. One plans to modernise and/or develop new study programmes (continuous education and training programme, too) that will reflect the needs and development of the market and society, namely by improving and/or integration of digital and sustainable component, as well a good balance between vocational and key competences. The underlying basis of the plan is to improve the cooperation between the education system and labour market (apprenticeship) to cater an efficient and faster transition of young people to the labour market. Projects will include a project to develop and set up an application to monitor the employability of upper secondary vocational graduates.

The Ministry responsible for education started in February 2021 the multi-year modernisation of education programmes (sl). By the decision of the Minister, the National education institute Slovenia has to develop background material for the modernisation of education programmes in basic and upper secondary general education, background material for modernisation of knowledge catalogues for general education subjects in upper secondary vocation and technical education, and short upper secondary vocational education, as well as background material for modernisation of the Kindergarten curriculum.

The Institute has to relate the background material to the current Analysis of subject-curricula in basic school and upper secondary general education, the findings of the pilots carried out and development projects and activities, as well as concepts developed in parallel. The process of developing background material has to comply with the strategic goals and policies of the national recovery plan that seeks to improve, in particular, the digital competences and sustainable development competences in basic and upper secondary general education, as well as other important strategic development documents of the Republic of Slovenia.

Modernisation of adult education

In July 2021, the Ministry responsible for education consulted the public on the draft Resolution on the master plan for adult education 2021–2030 (sl). The resolution defined public interest in adult education. It encapsulated the objectives and indicators of the plan, priority areas in adult education, actions on the provision of adult education, scope of relevant funding, ministries responsible for individual actions, as well as the manner of harmonisation while pursuing the goals, and the manner of monitoring the implementation of the plan. The master plan shall include respective programmes and activities of competent ministries that will be public service.

In 2021, the amended Labour Market Regulation Act (sl) came into force. It imposed on the unemployed third-country nationals the requirement to attest the competence in Slovenian language at the entry level (level A1) within 12 months at the latest after they have been entered on the register of unemployment persons. This requirement will be deemed satisfied for a third-country national who had finished basic school or upper secondary, short-cycle higher vocational or higher education programme in Slovenia or was issued an officially recognised certificate attesting their competence in Slovenian language at level A1. Third-country nationals can enrol on a course and take an exam in Slovenian at the level A1 after they joint the active employment action. The Centre for Slovenian as a second and foreign language, Faculty of arts, University of Ljubljana administers exams in Slovenian.

In August, the Ministry responsible for labour, family and social affairs consulted the public on the amendments of the Labour Market Regulation Act (sl). It makes provision to extend the deadline for taking the exam in Slovenian language until 30 June 2022 for persons for whom the deadline will have lapsed on 31 December 2021 and the Employment office of the Republic of Slovenia has not referred them to take exam in Slovenian until December 2021 to extend the deadline until 30 June 2022.

Other policy developments

In December 2021, the ministry responsible for education consulsted the public on the Rules on additional professional and physical assistance for children with special needs. It established the right to an interpreter in Slovenian sign language for deaf and deafblind learners if it is so indicated in their the placement order.

In December 2021, the National Assembly adopted the Act amending the Organisation and Financing of Education Act. The amendment related to the objectives in education, personal data processing for setting up and operations of the secured national information system for managing schools and school documentation of learners, as well as the composition of councils of schools and kindergartens.

The law laid additional objectives: education with an emphasis on the Slovenian culture and European values, fostering curiosity, inquisitive spirit, imagination and intuitions, as well as developing independent thinking. It set up a single national information system of the highest standard of data protection and defined among other: enrolment in kindergarten, basic school and upper secondary school, central civil register, mark book, daybook, school’s annual work plan, national school calendar, agreement on school meals, decision, notifications, and school certificates.

The councils of kindergarten and school would now include three representatives of a founder, three representatives of staff (five before) and three representatives of parents; in upper secondary school, two representatives of parents (three before) and on representative of students (two before).

In November 2021, the minister adopted:

• Rules amending the Rules on norms and standards for the implementation of educational programmes in secondary education
• Rules amending the Rules on norms and standards in secondary schools employing Italian as a language of instruction
• Rules amending the Rules on norms and standards in bilingual secondary schools
• Rules amending the Rules on methods for funding upper secondary education programmes

The amendments were made as follow-up to specifying greater scope of activities and greater complexity of pursuing activities with upper secondary students in individual job posts in schools. Furthermore, harmonisation of normative responsibilities and duties of leading posts with norms that apply to basic schools was required, as well as amendments in upper secondary education programmes related to the inclusion of the “aktivno državljanstvo” (active citizenship). Teachers of active citizenship could have their teaching load decreased proportionally. Schools and residence halls for students can now accelerate activities in this field because of lowering the norm that apply to staffing structure for counsellors, librarians. The norm for organisers of practical lessons with work has been lowered, as well. This applied, in particular, to schools that provide programmes with apprenticeship training. By example of the norm for basic schools, a new job post for cooks and/or dietary cooks in residence halls for upper secondary students has been introduced, namely the need for preparing meals according to the medically indicated diets (allergies, hypersensitivity to food, metabolism disorders, and other chronic illnesses) has become ever-present. The amendments to the rules introduced to schools and residence halls reinforcements in accounting, administrative, maintenance, technical and housekeeping staff.

In October 2021, the minister responsible for education adopted the Action plan to work out the proposal for the installation of the Slovenian sign language in the system of preschool education, basic school education and upper secondary education in the period 2021–2024. It was developed by the working group consisted of representatives of professional community (institutes that provide education programmes adapted to deaf and hard of hearing learners, higher education institution), interest groups, National education institute, and ministry responsible for education. The aim was to address the individual aspects of education of deaf and hard of hearing learners comprehensively: the contents of the education programmes as well as mechanisms necessary to support the provision. The action plan included four sets of activities:

1. Analysis of the situation and mechanisms of on-going monitoring
2. Duties and responsibilities related to education programmes for deaf and hard of hearing learners
3. Promotion of learning and teaching of Slovenian sign language
4. Planning, coordinating and monitoring of activities.

Under each individual set, it specified the objectives and expected outcomes, as well as type of foreseen activities including indicators, operators, dates or timeframe and funds. Operators started the activities in 2021 and 2022. There has been a study ongoing on evaluation of the current model of education for deaf learners. The capturing of data on deaf and hard of hearing basic school and upper secondary students has been improved; the existing and new programmes of training for education staff have been carried out. For more information read the report by the working group.

In October 2021, the National Assembly adopted the Act amending the Organisation and financing of education Act. The amendments related to operations and status of school funds. School funds could now be allocated for participation of children, basic school and upper secondary students from socially less advantaged backgrounds in activities relevant to the provision of an officially recognised programme. These activities could not be covered in full with public funds if this would stand for equal opportunities. The beneficiary for up to 0.3 % of donations by individual residents (part dedicated under annual personal income tax) could be the school fund and/or kindergarten fund.

In September 2021, the ministry responsible for education consulted the public on the draft Rules on public call and first enrolment in part-time education in officially recognised upper secondary education. It specified the consent to the scope of enrolment call, call/register/enrolment procedure.

The ministry responsible for infrastructure modernised with the Act amending the Road transport Act (sl) as of 1 September 2021 the system of subsidised tickets for upper secondary and higher education students and adult education learners, as well as it introduced the subsidised ticket for integrated public passenger transport. The ticket at a common price of EUR25 for one month and/or EUR200 for a year will allow students to travel unlimitedly on the public transport intercity routes in Slovenia. That means between not only the place of residence and place of education, but on routes all over the country.

In July 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted:

• Rules amending the Rules on matura for candidates with special educational needs (sl). The national general matura committee, national general matura mathematics committee and representatives of the association Društvo Bravo reached an agreement on the use of a simple calculator in taking a written exam in mathematics – examination sheet 1 in general matura. Such aids are otherwise not allowed according to the General matura mathematics examination catalogue 2021.
• Rules amending the Rules on the organisation and reimbursement of transportation costs for children and young people with special needs (sl). In the past, head teachers of upper secondary schools had difficulties finding the transporter with an adapted vehicle suitable for the transportation of students with moderate to severe physical disability. The physical disability of certain students is such that students can move from a wheelchair into a vehicle on their own despite their disability, in domestic or organised transport and vice versa. If parents can drive a student in this way, also otherwise, than there is no need to a different arrangement in school.

In July 2021, the Ministry responsible for education consulted the public on the following draft new rules with relevant preambles to amendments:

• Rules on norms and standards of implanting education programmes and the education programme for students with emotional and behavioural disorders in upper secondary education (sl)
• Rules on norms and standards in upper secondary schools with Italian medium of instruction (sl)
• Rules on norms and standards in the bilingual upper secondary school (sl), and
• Rules amending the Rules on methods for funding upper secondary education programmes (sl).

The majority of propose amendments related to increase in number the counselling staff, librarians, and organisers of practical training at work, as well as accounting, administrative and technical staff. The draft rules introduce a new job post of a cook or dietary cook in upper secondary schools, as well.

In June 2021, the Education, Science and Culture Trade Union of Slovenia signed with the Government of the Republic of Slovenian the Annex to the Collective Agreement for the Education Sector in the Republic of Slovenia (Annex to the Collective Agreement for the Education Sector in the Republic of Slovenia). It amended and/or stipulated the time lag for the salary, namely to be paid out on the day 10 of the relevant month at the latest. Further, it amended the commuting, meal and holiday allowances, amount of daily and off-site allowances, allowance per kilometre covered by a personal vehicle for work, holiday allowance, allowance for meals, compensation for upper secondary and higher education students in compulsory practical training, and threshold for acquiring the right to solidary help for members of the representative union. Now, the amount of the allowance for meals will be adjusted twice a year, the amount of the separation allowance, daily allowance for business travels within the country, long-service bonuses and solidarity help once a year, and for the years of service taken into account when acquiring the right to long-service bonus one shall also take into account years of service at concessionaires that pursue activities in the public service network.

In May 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted the new Co-funding school competitions Rules (sl). The competent Ministry consulted other ministries and the public on the new Rules in February 2021. It specifies requirements, selection procedure and manner of funding, as well as eligible cost for co-funding school competition in knowledge, and school competitions in talent, skills and for popularisation of knowledge for basic and upper secondary education. The Rules further specify the manner of defining the number of golden and silver awards, as well as selection procedure and eligible costs of international competitions organised in the Republic of Slovenia.

In March 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted the Rules amending the Upper secondary school calendar Rules (sl). It will apply from the school year 2021/2022. It introduces some changes to dates (exams and end of school), does away with mismatch with the relevant laws on annual work plan. The names of statistical regions will be updated and start dates for individual holidays amended, that is no-school days (public holidays). It also does away with the mismatch with the Upper secondary school documentation.

In January 2021, the Minister responsible for education approved the amendments:

• Rules on norms of implementing education programmes and education programme for students with emotional and behavioural disorders in upper secondary education (sl),
• Rules amending the Rules on norms and standards in upper secondary schools with Italian medium of instruction (sl), and
• Rules amending the Rules on norms and standards in the bilingual upper secondary school (sl).

The amendments allow for eventual extra reduction in instruction time in view of the organisation to date for a teacher who is responsible to organise information activities and has proper competences.

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic

In December 2021, the National Assembly adopted the Act on Additional Measures to Stop Spreading and Mitigate, Control, Recover and Eliminate the Consequences of COVID-19. It specified that in case of the pandemic situation becoming worse, the decision to revert to distant learning for a specific time should be the decision of a head-teacher after consultation with the ministry responsible for education and the National institute of public health. An educational institution would have the opportunity to enter into agreement of employment for urgent work requirements and for a fixed term without the requirement to made a public announcement about the vacancy, until 31 August 2022.

In December 2021, the ministry responsible for education adopted the General and vocational Matura adjustment in the school year 2021/2022 Decision. It specified the amendment to the subject examination catalogues, implementation of matura in two consecutive terms, keeping record of e-mails of general matura candidates, insight in the examination documentation, appeal, justified reasons for an additional date for insight in general matura, return of examination documentation, nomination and composition of the school examination board, terms, development of test sheets for oral exams, organisation and notification of candidates for written exams, dates of oral exams and written exams, preparation of candidates for written exams, and implementation of oral exams.

In November 2021, the minister responsible for education adopted the Final examination adjustment in the school year 2021/2022 Decision. It specified the amendment related to the nomination and composition of the school exam board, implementation of the oral and written parts of the final exam in Slovenian (Italian or Hungarian), and amendment to the examination catalogue related to the product and/or service and defence.

In October 2021, the minister responsible for education adopted Decision on the emergency measures in personnel administration required for smooth operations of educational institutions. It specified that in the 2021/2022 school year, the educational institutions could sign on students of the second cycle study programme for teachers to take on duties and responsibilities in the school under supervision of a mentor and on temporary or occasional basis. This would count for work experience future teachers require to sign up for a professional examination.

In October 2021, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia the Ordinance amending the Ordinance on the method of meeting the condition of morbidity, vaccination and testing to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The amendment specified among other that the frequency of screening should increase for all staff to every 48 hours. Additionally, the amendments introduced self-testing for all students of basic school, upper secondary schools and tertiary education, and also for participating in sports programmes, sports recreational activities and extracurricular activities.

In October 2021, the ministry responsible for education adopted the Decision on the vocational matura winter term adjustments in the school year 2021/2022. It specified the amendment to subject examination catalogues, common bonus in assessment, implementation of matura in one or two consecutive terms, nomination and composition of school examination board, development of test sheets for oral exams, distribution and notifying of candidates in written exams, setting up the examination rooms, preparation of candidates for written exams, responsibilities and duties of supervising teachers, oral examination course, and implementation of exam in the fourth subject of vocational matura

In September 2021, the ministry responsible for education adopted the Decision on the emergency measures in personnel administration required for smooth operations of educational institutions. The decision made provision for educational institutions for children and youth with special educational needs in the 2021/2022 school year to provide, if all possibilities to enter into employment agreement have been exploited, an interpreter of the Slovenian sign language for deaf and hard of hearing students who had been placed in programmes for children with special educational needs.

On 6 September 2021, the Ordinance on the approach to meeting the recovered-vaccinated-tested requirements to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (sl) came into force. It imposed self-testing on the students in grades 7, 8 and 9 and upper secondary students, adult education learners, and higher education students. Self-testing is imposed on children and young people enroled in institutions for education and training for SEN children (institutions for children with emotional and behavioural disorders), and students at third to sixth level of special education programmes unless objective reasons exist against it. Basic school and upper secondary students, adult education learners and higher education students self-test with antigen testing kits at one-week intervals. They receive free test kits at the pharmacist’s. The antigen testing kits shall be state funded.

The ordinance imposed on education staff and other staff at all levels of education the recovered-vaccinated-tested requirement. The results of antigen self-testing kits taken at one-week intervals apply, as well. Employers in education provide funds for self-testing and specify the time and place of self-testing, it can be at home or at work. Employers can according to the ordinance act against the employees who do not meet the RVT requirement, namely according to the rules on occupational health and safety, rules on employment relations, and respective collective agreements. Persons and employees who fail to meet the RVT requirement shall not be allowed to used services and participate or be present during the provision of the service.

By the Decision on educational activities in public educational institutions in the school year 2021/2022 (sl) the new school year started in basic schools and upper secondary schools according to the model B according to the models and recommendations in circumstance of COVID-19 infectious disease (sl). Educational institutions have to account for the current epidemiological situation and pursue the educational activities as recommended by National institute of public health.

By the Distance teaching decision (sl) the distance teaching and learning in basic and upper secondary schools will take place if: Temporary restriction or prohibition of crowding in educational institutions, organisation of educational activities adjusted to epidemiological restrictions (alternate lessons etc.), and the competent inspectorate decides that the institution does not meet the defined restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 or quarantining of individual classes.

On 1 April 2021, the deteriorated epidemiological situation and by the relevant ordinance of the Government (sl) all upper secondary schools closed. They welcomed back final-year students in upper secondary education (as to the 4- or 3-year programme) and all students in short upper secondary vocational education (2-year programmes) on 12 April 2021.  The remaining students returned returned to school to follow the hybrid model, namely half of classes alternates weekly between school and distance learning. On 10 May 2021 all students returned to school to regular provision.

In March or April 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted:

• Decision on upper secondary student obligations in work-based learning in the school year 2020/2021 (sl) It allowed for the adjustment in scope and manner of work-based learning for higher vocational college students who were not able to complete practical training due to the restrictions imposed to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the scope and manner as specified with the upper secondary educaiton programme. The underlying basis was protection of rights and legal benefits of students in vocational education. The adjustment is in the domain of the school head teacher.
• Decision on the assessment in vocational modules and final grade in apprenticeship in school year 2020/2021 (sl). It allowed for adjustment and/or room for decision-maing about adjustment for smooth assessment and awarding final grades in the school year 2020/2021.
• Decision on general and vocational matura adjustment in the school year 2020/2021 (sl) It specified adjustments to the subject examination catalogues, assessment, and implementation of matura in two consecutive exam terms, keeping records of electronic addresses of general matura candidates, access to examination documentation, complaint, return of examination documentation, nomination and membership of school examination committee, dates,  development of oral exam sheets, arranging and informing candidates of written exams, dates of oral exams and presentations, duties and responsibilities of the invigilating teachers, arrangement of the examination room, preparing candidates for the oral exam, oral exam execution, and execution of the exam in the fourth subject of the vocational matura.
• Decision amending the delivery of the final examination in the school year 2020/2021
•  (sl) It spedified the adjustments for nomination and membership of the school examination committee, written and oral part of the final examination in Slovenian language (Italian or Hungarian), as well as adjustment of the examination catalogue fort he final product or service or presentation.

On 8 March 2021 and in accordance with the Ordinance on the temporary prohibition of assembly in educational institutions and universities (sl), the upper secondary schools opened their doors to the remaining students still taking distance lessons. The students returned to school to sit their lessons according to the adapted model C. This means that students alternatively go to school for one week and stay at home and take distance lessons the next. In this way, only half of students or classes are present at school. Present at all time at school for all lessons are students in final years and all students in short upper secondary vocational education.

On 15 February 2021, all final-year students in upper secondary education and all students in short upper secondary vocational education, too, returned to school. According to the Ordinance on the temporary prohibition of assembly in educational institutions and universities (sl) as of February 2021,  the staff of educational institutions have to get weekly rapid SARS-CoV-2 test.

In February 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted the Rules on the method of funding the protection equipment and room disinfection for providers in education and science (sl).  It applies to the state funding. The funding criteria are number of employees and number of children and students as per standard cost of each employee and participant. The period of funding eligible costs of protection equipment takes from 1 March 2021 until the stop of compulsory use of protection equipment and disinfection of rooms for spread prevention of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

In February 2021, the National Assembly adopted the Act on Additional Measures for Mitigation of Consequences COVID-19 (sl). It gives students who are regular students of officially recognised education programmes in the Republic of Slovenia in the school year 2020/2021 and are not in employment relationship the right to a single solidarity benefit of €50.

In January 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted for smooth winter term delivery of vocational matura and final examination in the school year 2020/2021

• Decision on the rights and duties pertaining to the vocational matura winter term 2020/2021 (sl); it amends the subject exam catalogues, the delivery of matura in two consecutive terms, appointment and structure of the school examination committee, distribution of candidates and supervising teachers in the examination room, arrangement of the examination room, preparation of candidates for the written exam, duties and responsibilities of the supervising teacher, course of the oral exam, and delivery of the exam in the fourth subject in vocational matura, and
• Decision on the rights and duties pertaining to the final examination winter term in the school year 2020/2021 (sl); it amends the appointment and structure of the school examination committee, delivery of the written and oral part of the exam in Slovenian (Italian or Hungarian), and it amends the examination catalogue in reference to product and/or service and defence.

You can read more about it in the circular letter by the Ministry responsible for education (sl).

In January 2021, the Minister responsible for education adopted the Decision on the Slovenian course and additional Slovenian lessons in the school year 2020/2021 for students whose first language is not Slovenian or students who completed basic education outside the Republic of Slovenia (sl). It provided for the delivery of the intensive Slovenian course at some point until the end of the school year 2020/2021, but not necessarily in the first grading cycle or until the end of January of the current school year as it is specified otherwise. According to the Decision, students will not take examination in Slovenian after they had completed the course during the distance delivery of lessons and educational activities.