Slovenia announces primary education reform for 2028

Slovenia has announced a major reform of its primary education system, aiming to replace the current nine-year model with an eight-year primary school structure starting in the 2028/2029 academic year.

Education Minister Borut Rončević introduced the plan following PISA 2025 results, which indicated a decline in the reading, mathematics, and science proficiency of Slovenian 15-year-olds. While the primary school duration will decrease to eight years, the total period of mandatory education will remain nine years. The first year will be transformed into a mandatory preschool year, which could be held in kindergartens or within primary school facilities.

The reform includes updated curricula, changes to national testing and graduation systems, and a greater emphasis on core knowledge and assessment standards. The Ministry intends for the model to promote earlier literacy and provide better support for both struggling and gifted students. However, the announcement has met with scrutiny from school directors and parent associations regarding the practical implementation of these changes.