On Tuesday, nearly 275,000 pupils and students in the classrooms: what's new?

As the new school year begins in Slovenia, education officials and schools across the country are grappling with a mix of challenges and changes. The number of first-year students entering primary schools has decreased slightly compared to previous years, while millions of euros have been allocated to support educational institutions and kindergartens. These developments come amid broader reforms aimed at modernizing curricula and improving inclusion for immigrant children and students with special needs. The new academic year brings significant updates to curricula in primary and secondary schools. Revised teaching plans will be introduced in grades one, four, seven, and partially in grade six. Public funding for mandatory learning materials is expanding to include fourth-grade students as well. These updated curricula will take effect in both primary and secondary schools, marking a shift toward more comprehensive educational content. One of the key systemic challenges remains the integration of children and young people from immigrant backgrounds into the education system. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth is preparing legislative changes that would allow immigrants to gradually enter schools after completing preparatory programs focused primarily on learning the Slovenian language, understanding local culture, and familiarizing themselves with their environment. Additionally, a new amendment to the law on guiding children with special needs will take effect on September 1, introducing a tiered support system designed to provide earlier assistance to children facing learning and other difficulties. In the Gorenjska region, the school threshold will be crossed by 1,960 students for the first time this academic year. According to data from the ministry, approximately 186,687 students will attend primary schools nationwide, including 19,058 first-year students. In secondary schools within Gorenjska, 8,366 students have been enrolled as of August 24, with 2,445 starting their first year. Overall, the total number of students in Slovenia for the 2026/2027 school year is expected to reach around 88,000, with approximately 26,000 of them being first-year students. The start of the new school year is also marked by staffing shortages in schools. The ministry has announced certain changes intended to restore autonomy in decision-making within schools and strengthen the authority of teachers. These measures aim to address long-standing issues related to finding suitable staff, which have plagued the education sector for several years. Sašo Božič, president of the Association of School Principals and Deputy Principals of Slovenia, warned that the education system has faced significant challenges in recruiting qualified personnel over the years. He emphasized that the time may soon come when some aspects of current practices might no longer be feasible. However, he welcomed the proposed measures to grant greater autonomy to schools, stating that teachers perform their duties diligently and to the best of their abilities for the benefit of students. He believes it is time to return to a period when teachers were recognized as experts in their fields, when assessments reflected knowledge accurately, and when the educational efforts of schools were focused on resolving developmental challenges. He also supported the introduction of preparatory classes for immigrant students, arguing that acquiring basic knowledge of the Slovenian language can significantly ease their transition into the education system. This approach, he noted, seems particularly effective for older students, while younger ones tend to learn the language much faster.