You have the right to an education which is a human right. This right is very important, because education helps you to grow into an independent and fully developed individual and member of society. It also allows you to learn about your other human rights, such as the right to a family life, and how to enjoy them.
Right to an education
Your right to an education guarantees that you can:
- learn at an educational institution
- obtain official recognition (certificate) of the studies which you have completed
If you have functional disabilities, there should be special educational programmes which are suitable to your needs.
Free primary and secondary education in Slovenia
The Slovenian Constitution guarantees your free primary education. This means that you can go to school and your parents won’t have to pay a fee for you to go there. However, your parents must provide you with individual school supplies, such as stationery, textbooks or sports clothing. If they are unable to provide you with this, you can turn to your teacher or school counsellor, who will help you obtain the supplies you need.
You may continue you education at a free public secondary level educational institution, such as a grammar school, vocational school etc.
Higher education in Slovenia
If your grades are good enough, you may continue your education at an institution of higher education, per example a university. There is public higher education in Slovenia, meaning you can study at these schools for free.
Obligations within the education process
Your right to an education also brings along some obligations, some of which are set out in the Basic School Act, for example:
- to attend classes regularly
- to observe the internal regulations of the educational institution
- to observe the rights and interests of teachers, pupils and other persons
- to be polite and not to be emotionally and physically violent towards other persons in the educational institution
- not to endanger your health, safety or life or that of other persons in the educational institution
Language of instruction
In Slovenia, your schooling language will be the official language of the State, which is Slovenian.
There are, however, some exceptions. You may learn some of the school subjects in your native language if it has been recognized as an official minority language by the State. In Slovenia, in the border areas where the minorities reside, these minority languages are the Italian and Hungarian languages. There, there are primary schools in Italian language and bilingual primary schools, which combine Slovenian and Hungarian language.
Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Freedom of thought, conscience and religion is one of your human rights. This freedom means that you can freely express what you believe in words or in any other way to other people. For example, you may wish to wear a cross around your neck, take part in a collective prayer or follow a vegetarian diet.
important You must respect the beliefs of other pupils in the same way that they must respect yours. Therefore, you must respect what other pupils express as their beliefs, even if you disagree.