Slovenia has introduced new amendments to the Basic School Act, aiming to modernise the education system, promote multilingualism, and provide equal opportunities for students. The changes include compulsory learning of a first foreign language, a renewed extended basic school programme, and improved home schooling regulations. 

At the beginning of the year, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia has passed significant changes to the Basic School Act. This act regulates basic education provided by public and private primary schools or provided as home education. The amendments aim to modernise the school system and enhance the quality and inclusivity of basic school education. 

One key change is the introduction of compulsory learning of a first foreign language from the first grade onwards. Previously, the majority of students already took a foreign language as an optional subject. This change to the basic school timetable promotes multilingualism and has been well received by teachers, head-teachers, and parents. 

The new law also introduces a revised concept for the extended basic school programme. Already, schools provide an extensive programme for their students such as after-school classes, supplementary and remedial lessons, individual and group learning support, and optional elective subjects. With the amendments of the Basic School Act, these classes are restructured to include content in the areas of physical activity, health, cultural and citizenship education, and learning how to learn. Participation in this programme is voluntary for students. In practice, this means that optional elective subjects are no longer assessed and marked. Schools are obliged to offer the programme both before and after compulsory lessons, ensuring that all students can attend these activities. 

Furthermore, the amendments introduce stricter regulations for home schooling, requiring students to achieve the same educational standard as those in the compulsory school programme. This includes extending knowledge assessment to all subjects in a class, restricting the right for home schooling if students fail examinations. In addition, students can voluntarily discontinue home schooling at any time during the school year to join their peers in regular school education. 

The amendments also ensure holiday care for children with special needs in basic schools with adapted education programmes, but also in institutions for the education of children and young people with special educational needs. They further provide a legal basis for the use of the language of the deaf-blind and Slovenian sign language in schools. 

With the new Basic School Act, schools will have more opportunities to adapt to the needs and knowledge of individual students, particularly those whose first language is not Slovenian. To ensure social and linguistic integration, these students can learn Slovenian in school and maintain regular contact with Slovenian-speaking peers at the same time. 

Finally, the law introduces a compulsory national knowledge assessment for third-grade students. Given the recent findings on students’ reading and math skills in Slovenia, this assessment will primarily monitor these two fields. The performance in this assessment may also be considered in the selection of applicants for upper secondary education programmes. 

For more information: https://www.gov.si/novice/2024-02-22-drzavni-zbor-republike-slovenije-sprejel-novelo-zakona-o-osnovni-soli/, https://pisrs.si/pregledPredpisa?id=ZAKO448 

Source: Eurydice Unit Slovenia