A call for a higher profile of education and training
Overall, there have been important developments in Slovenia. There has been a significant additional source of funding originating from the European funds. Initiatives funded by the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) are focused on basic skills and flexible opportunities, but mainly assigned to skills towards the labour market needs. National resources have been allocated in accordance with the Adult Education Master Plan (2023–2030) and the resulting Annual Adult Education Plan 2024 and 2025. The priorities of the Adult Education Master Plan include general non-formal adult learning and education, while the majority of funds have been allocated to training for work.
While initiatives are in place, adult participation in learning has decreased significantly in the last years from 40.3% of adults participating in learning in the previous 12 months in 2016 to 26.5% in 2022. Disparities are observed in these participation, mainly concerning older adults, people outside the labour force and persons with a migrant background. Thus, improving outreach is crucial for next year.
This Country Report has been conducted with the support of Andragoški centre Republike Slovenije (ACS), the Slovenian Institute for Adult Education.
Skills dimension
The shift to “skills” often narrows the perspective to the skills related to the labour market and focuses solely on adults at working age. The exclusion of the “education” term, including in the title of the Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, significantly diminishes its visibility and importance for the future of the EU. The organisation considers the past European Year of Skills (2023–2024) also disseminated the 'skills-first’ approach.
Whenever possible, the organisation is drawing attention to the narrow policy targeting mainly workers and the active population; throughout the European Year of Skills previously mentioned, including at meetings of the EU Agenda for Adult Learning (EAAL) National Coordinators’ Network and, more recently, during the panel discussion held on 20 February 2025, organised by the Permanent Representation of Slovenia to the EU and the Lifelong Learning Platform, where they intervened at the launch of the third edition of the National Lifelong Learning Platforms Feasibility Study.
AI in adult learning
Artificial intelligence is being used as a tool to create educational materials, as well as to support the learning/teaching process. The organisation often participates in and organises training courses on the efficient and ethical use of AI.
Participation in decision-making
In the first half of 2024, a ACS’s representative, was still involved in the working group for the preparation of the National Programme of Education (pre-school, primary and secondary education) 2023-2033 to ensure that the specific features of adult education have been taken into account at all levels of the education system, and that the transition between the different levels (vertical and horizontal) is ensured for adults; ACS’s representative has participated in the National Lifelong Career Orientation Expert Group (2021–2025). In addition, a representative was appointed by the Ministry of Education to the national working group for the revision of the Regulations on the Promotion of Employees in the field of Education.
At the European level, the member organisation is involved in the European Year of Skills network of national coordinators (first half of 2024) and the EU Agenda for Adult Learning (EAAL) network of national coordinators (ongoing).
Slovenian member's view on the PIAAC results
Slovenia will take part in the next round of the PIAAC survey in 2025/2026.
Funding of adult education
According to ACS, the funding situation of adult education in Slovenia has significantly improved in 2024-2025.
The member organisation mentions multiple sources of funding, including:
- project funding
- programme funding
- operating grants/structural funding
- fees paid by individuals
- formula funding
- paid training leave
Recommendation to the European Commission
ACS recommends that the European Union should give higher visibility and priority to education and training, and to lifelong learning, particularly adult learning and education (ALE), moving away from an excessive focus on job-related skills and employment.
Guidance, information, awareness-raising, research, and the professionalisation of ALE staff should be fully integrated into overarching EU policies to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable approach to lifelong learning.
Disclaimer on the participation in education and training data: the data focuses on formal and non-formal education and training, excluding guided on-the-job training. Participation is higher when on-the-job training is included. Data coming from sources such as OECD and the monitoring framework of the European Pillar of Social Rights may differ from the presented data.