Slovenia: new guidelines adopted for upper secondary VET programmes

Evaluation and basis for modernisation

In 2023, the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI) released two pivotal documents evaluating the current guidelines for the preparation of upper secondary VET programmes, laying the basis for the upcoming revision. The first document, the Report on the analysis of the current guidelines, identified the strengths, challenges and shortcomings of the status quo. The second document, the Concept of renewal of the guidelines for the preparation of upper secondary VET programmes, presented the challenges of VET, and outlined the objectives and principles of modernisation. In summary, the evaluation revealed that the guidelines for developing upper secondary VET programmes do no longer meet the current labour market needs, as they do not sufficiently emphasise current key competences (especially for the green and digital transitions).

Development of the pilot guidelines

The pilot guidelines, based on these documents, were prepared as part of the Modernisation of VET project 2022-26, which aims to strengthen competences for the digital and green transitions, developing VET’s adaptability, resilience and responsiveness to labour market needs. It also focuses on economic recovery, on a balanced economic, environmental, and social development, and the promotion of social inclusion. The project’s budget for 2023/24 is EUR 1.7 million.

The design process of the new guidelines for the preparation of the short, vocational and technical upper secondary VET programmes takes place in two steps. The first part of the design process prioritised integrating digital literacy, sustainability, and other key competences into education programmes. In January 2024, the Minister for Education appointed an expert group consisting of representatives from various ministries, expert councils, chambers, upper secondary schools, universities and public institutions within the education sector, to prepare the revised guidelines with emphasis on fostering social partnerships.

The pilot guidelines now contain a set of seven key competences:

• digital competences;
• competences for sustainability;
• entrepreneurship and financial literacy;
• health and wellbeing;
• learning to learn;
• language, citizenship, culture and the arts;
• career planning and management.

Implementation and pilot programmes

In March 2024, the experts responsible presented the revised guidelines to the Expert council for VET who approved them. The new guidelines serve as a basis for the pilot modernisation of five upper secondary VET programmes that will run within the scope of the Modernisation of VET project 2022-2026:

• pharmaceutical technician (technical programme);
• industrial mechanic (vocational programme);
• technician of mechatronics (technical and vocational technical programmes);
• nursing assistant (vocational programme).

Future steps

In the second step of the modernisation process, the stakeholders will examine and address challenges such as the aims and purpose of the individual types of VET programmes (short, vocational, technical and vocational technical upper secondary education, higher VET education). Other focal points will include the transition of vocational education graduates to university studies, further development of apprenticeships, and curricular adjustments aimed at increasing the enrolment of adults.

Read more

• Modernizacija srednjega poklicnega in strokovnega izobraževanja 2022 – 2026 [Modernisation of VET project 2022-26]
• Izhodišča za pripravo izobraževalnih programov nižjega in srednjega poklicnega izobraževanja ter programov srednjega strokovnega izobraževanja [Guidelines for the preparation of the upper secondary VET programmes]
• Analiza dokumenta Izhodišča za pripravo izobraževalnih programov nižjega in srednjega poklicnega izobraževanja ter programov srednjega strokovnega izobraževanja [Analysis of the document Guidelines for the preparation of the upper secondary VET programmes]
• Koncept prenove Izhodišč za pripravo izobraževalnih programov nižjega in srednjega poklicnega izobraževanja ter programov srednjega strokovnega izobraževanja [Concept of renewal of the guidelines for the preparation of the upper secondary VET programmes]