Slovenia proposes education reform to restructure school governing councils

The Slovenian government has approved a proposal to amend the Act on the Organization and Financing of Education, sending it to the National Assembly via an accelerated procedure. This legislative move is described as the first step toward a comprehensive reform of the national education system.

The proposed changes aim to restructure the governing councils of public kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools to ensure more balanced representation. In public kindergartens and primary schools, the number of employee representatives would decrease from five to three, while the number of representatives for founders (the state or municipalities) and parents would remain at three each. For secondary schools, the council composition would shift from three founders, five employees, three parents, and two students to three founders, three employees, two parents, and one student.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth stated that the goal is to foster more transparent and accountable management by increasing the influence of founders and parents. Additionally, the amendment extends the possibility for teachers to perform supplementary work until 2030 to ensure the uninterrupted implementation of European cohesion policy projects.

The Slovenian Education, Science and Culture Union (SVIZ) has expressed opposition to the proposal, warning that reducing the number of employee representatives could increase political influence at both local and national levels and grant parents more sway in the appointment of principals.