New Education System in Slovenia

Ljubljana, 18 February - TOPIC/WEEK/EDUCATION
Parliament's adoption of the bills on preschool, elementary school, secondary school, and on continuing education Wednesday brought a thorough remodelling of the education system in Slovenia. The reorganization of Slovenia's education system was one of the most ambitious Government's projects, which has been thoroughly prepared by the Ministry of Education and Sports. The schools have already started the preparations for the new legislation, and the changes have now also been introduced through an umbrella bill on education. Members of Parliament were mostly unanimous in backing the Government's concept of the new education system with a sole exception: the introduction of an obligatory optional subject on religions and ethics in the last triad of a new nine-year elementary school. Although the issue divided the Parliament, the new subject was introduced and a gradual reorganization of the education system is now to start. The new education system is expected to become effective at the beginning of the third millenium.