Slovenia: National report and analytical infrastructure for quality assurance in education
Slovenia has published its first National Report on the Quality of the Education System and established an Analytical Centre within the Ministry of Education. These developments are part of efforts to implement a data-informed approach to quality assurance in education.
National report on educational quality
The report represents the first comprehensive, system-level overview of quality in education in Slovenia, developed after more than two decades of efforts to strengthen analytical capacity and data use in education. It brings together a wide range of national and international data sources and provides a structured framework for assessing performance, trends and development needs across the system.
The report conceptualises quality across four key dimensions:
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learning outcomes and student development,
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safe and supportive learning environments,
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teachers’ professional development and practice,
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quality assurance through self-evaluation.
A synthesis version of the report presents key findings and introduces system-level indicators to monitor quality over time. The indicators are aligned with European and international frameworks, including the European Education Area and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report adopts a broad definition of quality, covering academic outcomes as well as inclusion, well-being, and equity.
Analytical Centre: strengthening data-informed policymaking
The report is a key output of the Analytical Centre project.
Its main objective is to strengthen both quality assurance processes and evidence-based policymaking. The initiative focuses on:
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developing a shared understanding of quality,
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strengthening schools’ capacity for self-evaluation,
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integrating and analysing data from multiple sources,
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supporting decision-makers with evidence,
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strengthening links between research, policy and practice.
The Centre also contributes to translating findings from school self-evaluations into system-level policy responses. Self-evaluation is a legal requirement for schools and kindergartens under the Organisation and Financing of Education Act.
Supporting practice: digital platform and tools
To complement system-level developments, a new central platform www.zakakovost.si was launched that provides:
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access to legislation, analyses and international data,
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practical tools and materials for school self-evaluation,
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resources to support daily quality assurance practices in schools and kindergartens.
In addition, the project has produced supporting materials such as analytical studies (Institucionalna samoevalvacija v vzgoji in izobraževanju v Sloveniji; Vključevanje in delo z otroki priseljenci v vrtcih in šolah v Sloveniji, podcasts (Misija: kakovost) and instructional videos, aimed at strengthening professional capacity and promoting a culture of quality across the system.
Building a culture of quality and data use
These developments aim to:
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enhance transparency and accessibility of data,
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strengthen the use of evidence in policy and practice,
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support continuous improvement at both system and institutional levels.
The national report provides a baseline for future monitoring and policy development in Slovenia’s education system.
For more information: www.zakakovost.si
Source: Eurydice Unit Slovenia