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Slovenian education system reform

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2026-10-21 17:52 UTC → 2026-10-21 17:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Youth Borut Rončević has announced a comprehensive reform of the national education system following PISA 2025 results that indicated a significant decline in literacy levels, a trend Rončević described as “catastrophic.” A central element of the reform is the transition from a nine-year primary school model to an eight-year system, projected to begin in the 2028/29 school year. This plan includes converting the current first grade into a mandatory kindergarten period to provide earlier literacy support. Recent public opinion polling by the Parsifal agency shows significant support for the transition to an eight-year system, with 45.9% of respondents in favor and 28.8% opposed. Among parents of primary school students, support is higher at 51.1%, while education professionals show a narrower margin of 39% in favor versus 36% in opposition. To guide the reforms, the Ministry established a 26-member Expert Council coordinated by State Secretary Mojca Škrinjar. This appointment has sparked controversy; Branimir Štrukelj of the teacher unions criticized the selection as the “pinnacle of political arrogance,” citing the exclusion of pedagogical faculties and the SVIZ. As the reform progresses, the Ministry is drafting legislation to establish a teacher assembly aimed at strengthening professional standards and autonomy. While Minister Rončević frames the assembly as a vital step for the profession, the Slovenian Education, Science and Culture Union (SVIZ) has criticized the move as an “arrogant political maneuver” intended to create a false impression of consensus for the broader reforms. In a second consultation regarding the reform, the Ministry focused on assessment methods and the role of the matura exam. Participants reached a consensus that descriptive assessment for first and second-grade students is inappropriate, calling for new evaluation methods for these age groups. Discussions emphasized moving toward continuous assessment to discourage “campaign-style” learning.

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