A new school year with a series of changes: From free textbooks to financial literacy basics

The new school year brings a wave of changes aimed at improving education and inclusion, with free textbooks for fourth-grade students and the introduction of financial literacy courses in secondary schools. The reforms also include efforts to integrate immigrants more effectively into the educational system and expand support for children with special needs. These measures reflect broader government initiatives to modernize curricula, reduce administrative burdens on teachers, and enhance student learning outcomes. Enrollment numbers have slightly declined compared to last year, with 186,687 primary and secondary school students starting the new academic year, including 19,058 first-year students, fewer than the 19,897 recorded previously. In secondary schools, approximately 88,000 students are enrolled, representing a slight increase over the previous year. Among these, 26,005 are newcomers, with varying distributions across different educational tracks. About 954 have entered lower vocational programs, while others are pursuing intermediate, technical, or general secondary education. Free textbooks will now be available for fourth-grade students, marking a change from prior policies that limited such provisions to the first three grades. This expansion aims to ensure all students receive necessary materials without financial strain on families. The Ministry of Education has confirmed that primary schools will provide textbooks, workbooks, and notebooks for students in grades one through four using funds from the textbook fund. This initiative represents a shift toward greater public funding for educational resources, particularly for younger learners. Immigrant integration is another key focus area, with plans to gradually incorporate newcomers into primary schools following completion of preparatory programs. Similar steps will apply to secondary school students, who will participate in programs designed to improve their knowledge of the Slovenian language, culture, and understanding of how the country functions. These measures aim to foster inclusivity and help immigrant students better adapt to the local educational environment. Reforms also extend to the curriculum for children with special needs, with a new law defining children with visual and hearing impairments as a distinct group requiring tailored educational approaches. The updated legislation introduces a tiered support system, allowing primary schools to offer targeted assistance to students facing learning difficulties or other challenges. This framework ensures that educational institutions can respond more effectively to individual student needs. In secondary schools, the revised curricula emphasize digital competencies, sustainable development, and financial literacy. These updates align with broader goals of modernizing vocational and technical education, preparing students for future career paths. New programs in fields such as nursing assistant, pharmaceutical technician, and mechatronics operator are set to begin this academic year, reflecting the government’s push towards equipping students with skills relevant to emerging industries and environmental sustainability. Teachers will also benefit from reduced bureaucratic responsibilities and increased autonomy under proposed legislative changes. A reform targeting the maturity exam seeks to revert certain aspects of its structure, restoring the traditional format of exams in four subjects while maintaining flexibility for candidates to pursue alternative pathways. These adjustments aim to streamline assessments and reduce administrative complexity for educators.