Political Framework

The Republic of Slovenia is a parliamentary democracy. The official language is Slovenian. In bilingual areas, that is in municipalities with Italian and Hungarian ethnic minorities, Italian and Hungarian, respectively, are also official languages. Members of ethnic minorities have the right to education in their mother tongue. Roma are likewise granted special educational rights.

The Slovenian Constitution guarantees free education to all. Basic education is mandatory. The state is required to enable its citizens to obtain appropriate education.

The Ministry of Education and Sport is responsible for the implementation of education policy. Its prime responsibility is to enforce educational legislation. It has the authority to decide on administrative matters related to pre-school education, basic education, secondary general, technical and vocational education, higher vocational education (other higher education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology), education of children with special needs, music education, adult education, education of all ethnic minorities in Slovenia.