Education

Interesting statistics

School year 2009/10, 2010/11

Number of elementary schools  786, 787 

Number of pupils in elementary schools  160,252, 159,508

Number of pupils per teacher  12.3

Number of secondary schools    129, 129 

Number of pupils at secondary schools   85.030, 82.267

Number of tertiary education establishments  89 (2009)

Number of all students in tertiary education  114.873, 107.134

Number of graduates in tertiary education  18.103, 19.694

Number of students enrolled for postgraduate study  14.212, 13.300

                           Source: Statistical Office of the RS

The Slovenian school system has seen a number of changes in recent years, aiming to ensure that as many people as possible realise their right to education, better than before, thus achieving a higher educational level.

The education system in Slovenia is almost fully financed from the state budget; a small share of the finance is also contributed from municipal budgets.

Public expenditure for education includes expenditure on basic compulsory, secondary and tertiary institutions, as well as the running costs of pre-school education, post-graduate study and expenditure related to boarding at some secondary schools and in university students accommodation. Included are both state schools and private schools with concessions and, to an extent as determined by law, also other private schools.

The educational profile of Slovenia’s population is improving. The best educated are those employed in the area of education and public administration, while the unemployed are still less educated than those in employment. More than 17% of persons aged 25 to 64 were in some form of education or training in 2005.

98% of primary school leavers decide to continue their education, and 84% of secondary school leavers go on to tertiary education. The number of students has more than doubled since 1991. The share of higher education students per thousand inhabitants has risen from 19.1% in 1991 to 41.1% in 2005. Private (single) higher education institutions can be established as universities or single faculties, art academies and professional colleges. Slovenian or foreign natural or legal entities can establish higher education institutions.

Slovenia has four universities: the University of Ljubljana, the University of Maribor , the University of Primorska and the University of Nova Gorica.

Like some other EU countries Slovenia opted for a gradual implementation of the Bologna reform, so that by the academic year 2009/10, only so-called “post-reform” programmes will be offered.

For students from EU Member States, the enrolment procedures are the same as for Slovenian students. In public higher education institutions students from EU member states, like Slovenian students, pay tuition fees for part-time studies, while full-time studies are free.

The competent bodies for planning and implementing education is the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.