Slovenian Ministry discusses school reform and assessment methods

The Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Youth held its second consultation regarding school reform, focusing on new assessment methods and the role of the matura exam. Participants reached a consensus that descriptive assessment for first and second-grade students is inappropriate and called for the development of new evaluation methods for these age groups.

Discussions emphasized the need for more continuous assessment to encourage regular study habits rather than ‘campaign-style’ learning immediately preceding exams. While participants agreed that the National Knowledge Assessment (NPZ) is a vital indicator of educational standards and system quality, most did not support using NPZ results as a mandatory condition for progressing to the next level of education.

Regarding the matura, attendees noted that secondary education is currently too focused on exam preparation, which can limit the breadth of the teaching process. Further professional analysis will be conducted to determine the future role of the matura and how its results should be valued for further education enrollment.