Publicly subsidized adult education programmes in Slovenia include those that target basic skills; programmes aimed at achieving a formal educational qualification; programmes targeting the unemployed or those at risk of becoming redundant; and liberal (popular) adult education programmes.

An important centrally developed framework programme that incorporates the strengthening of basic skills is Training for success in life. This framework programme aims to increase literacy among adults, strengthen their social skills and encourage active citizenship. There are currently five different programmes taking place within this framework. Other relevant programmes in this field include digital literacy, project learning for young adults and language programmes, as well as adult education programmes specifically designed for migrants.

Adult education and training targeting the transition to the labour market is offered through the Employment Service (sl) which caters to the registered unemployed jobseekers.

Two forms of liberal/popular education programmes have been continuously receiving public funding, namely study circles and centres for independent learning (sl).

Adults can also achieve all levels of formal educational qualifications (sl).

Provision to raise achievement in basic skills

Several programmes that cover the area of basic skills have been developed through public funding, some at the local level (these might be co-funded from the national public budget to a limited extent) and others at the central/national level (these are funded from the national budget).

An important centrally developed framework programme is Training for success in life, which aims to increase literacy among adults, strengthen their social skills and encourage active citizenship. There are currently five specific programmes implemented within this framework (details below), namely "Reading and writing together", "Bridge to education", "Challenges of rural life", "My steps" and "Me and my workplace". They are all funded from the national public budget and European Social Fund and are free of charge for participants.

• Reading and writing together (Beremo in pišemo skupaj) is a family literacy programme for parents of school age children. The programme started in 2003. Its main purpose is to raise the level of literacy and basic skills of low skilled parents of children in the first three grades of basic school, in order to refine the parents' social skills, develop family reading culture, provide motivation for life-long learning and encourage active citizenship. The programme takes 75 hours, and it does not lead to a formal certificate or qualification. It is most commonly delivered by public institutions for adult education established by the local communities.

• Bridge to education (Most do izobrazbe) is a literacy programme supporting adults to re-enter formal education. The programme is aimed at adults with up to 10 years of completed formal education. It is designed to enable adults – with a wish to continue their education – to strengthen their basic skills and motivation and to overcome the first obstacles encountered on their path to further education. This programme itself does not lead to a formal qualification. Over the course of 100-120 hours the programme targets basic literacy (writing, reading, speaking) and numeracy skills; digital literacy; social skills (communication, interpersonal skills); motivation for life-long learning; learning capacity; and active citizenship. Most commonly the providers are public institutions for adult education established by the local communities.

• Challenges of rural life (Izzivi podeželja) is a literacy programme specifically designed for rural areas. The programme is aimed at adults in rural areas with low level of formal educational qualifications, more specifically those with up to 10 years of completed education who would like to improve their economic and social situation. The main purpose of the programme is to provide basic knowledge and skills that enable participants to identify and evaluate their own potentials as well as opportunities that exist in the rural environment. Over the course of 120 hours (usually spread over three months) the programme targets basic literacy (writing, reading, speaking) and numeracy skills; digital literacy; social skills (communication, interpersonal skills); motivation for life-long learning; learning capacity; and active citizenship.

• My steps (Moj korak) programme is targeted at adults who need help in everyday life situations to achieve greater independence and social integration as well as at adults with special needs. The programme covers basic skills (writing, reading, speaking and numeracy skills, digital literacy); social skills (communication, interpersonal skills); skills for life-long learning; and active citizenship. The aim of the programme is to enable adult participants to more easily cope with various everyday life situations; be more independent and take responsibility; take part in various social activities; feel more self-confident; and overall improve their quality of life. The programme takes place over the course of 120 hours spread over six to eight months. It is delivered to groups of 10-12 adults. Each group is overseen by two teachers, one of whom is a special or rehabilitation pedagogue.

• Me and my workplace (Jaz in moje delovno mesto) is a workplace literacy programme launched in 2005. Its purpose is to strengthen basic skills of employees with low qualifications, including literacy, numeracy, digital and social skills, communication in foreign languages, interpersonal skills and active citizenship. The main target group are employed workers above the age of 26 with up to 10 years of completed formal education who work in workplaces that require low or medium level of skills and are destined to become obsolete due to technological changes or to be wound up due to production transfer. Employees wishing to obtain basic or upper secondary vocational education are also targeted. Some of the programme's curriculum standards – e.g. communication in Slovene language, mathematics, environment, science and technology – are equivalent to those of the basic school for adults, short vocational education programmes or upper secondary vocational education programmes. The equivalency of standards was formally confirmed by the Council of Experts for Adult education (sl). This makes it possible for those who successfully complete the workplace literacy programme to have course credits transferred to the basic school for adults, short vocational education programmes or upper secondary vocational education programmes, in case they decide to enrol in such programmes. The workplace literacy programme lasts up to nine months and takes place over 350 hours. The recommended form of provision is through regular courses delivered at the employees' workplace for up to 12 hours per week. In cases where course mode is unavailable it is possible to replace it by supervised individual learning and consultations. Most common providers are public institutions for adult education established by the local communities.

There are other relevant programmes in addition to the framework of "Training for success in life". They include digital literacy, project learning and language programmes.

• Digital literacy for adults (Računalniška pismenost za odrasle) programme has been implemented since 2005. Its primary aim is to promote digital literacy among adults by presenting the advantages of using computers; demonstrating how to make best use of a computer; and providing basic digital training (e.g. in the creation and formatting of texts, the use of internet and the use of e-mail). The idea is to enable everyone to actively participate in information society, regardless of their age or educational attainment. Enrolment is open to all adults without previous experience with computers but with a desire to gain basic digital knowledge and skills needed for professional and everyday life. The programme is implemented over the course of 60 hours and funded from the state budget. The curriculum and regulations pertaining to the programme were adopted centrally, by the Council of Experts for Adult education. The certificate awarded to those who complete the programme may be acknowledged in lower vocational education but is generally not intended for further progression.

• Project learning for young adults (Projektno učenje za mlajše odrasle - PUM) is a centrally developed programme that started in 1999. It is aimed at NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young adults (aged from 15 to 25) who have not completed basic or upper secondary education. The purpose is to encourage them to re-enter formal education and to enhance participants' opportunities in the labour market. The programme combines different approaches to enhance motivation for life changes by strengthening lifelong learning competencies such as upgraded basic skills, provide career guidance and offer support to draw up a strategy for success in life. It covers learning and studying skills; mother tongue competencies; scientific and numerical literacy; digital and media literacy; skills needed for sustainable development and social skills. The programme is usually implemented over 10 months of organized project work (32 hours per week), complemented with individual project work (one day per week). Participation in the programme, which is funded from national and European sources, is free of charge. 

• Officially recognized language programmes for adults have been taking place since 1999. In 2005, English, French, Italian and German were supplemented with Hungarian language. The programmes can be delivered as comprehensive courses, seminars, by modules, as individually led learning experience with mentor consultation or as distance learning. Each language programme takes 500-550 hours (300 basic level, 200-250 advanced level).

In addition, there are also adult education programmes specifically designed for migrants.

• Slovenian language for foreigners (Slovenščina za tujce) was initiated in 2000. The main aim of the programme is to develop communication competencies in Slovenian language. This takes place over the course of 500 hours (250 hours for basic level, 125 for intermediate level and 125 for advanced level). The programme is publicly funded from national and European sources, and it targets persons who need a certificate of knowledge of Slovenian for professional or educational purposes or to acquire Slovenian citizenship. The programme is designed for the following groups of third country nationals:

1. those with permanent residence permits and their family members with temporary residence permits under the family reunification rules
2. those with temporary residence permits – provided the validity of the current permit and previous temporary residence permits combined is at least 24 uninterrupted months – and their family members with temporary residence permits issued under family reunification rules, and
3. family members of Slovenian nationals and citizens of the European Economic Area who reside in Slovenia under the residence permit for the family member, irrespective of the length of stay and the validity of the permit.

These groups of participants are considered legally entitled to participate, and the programme is offered to them free of charge, whereas other participants pay tuition fees.

• Early integration of immigrants (Začetna integracija priseljencev) programme was launched in 2011. The target group are immigrants (foreigners) who hold a permanent or temporary residence permit or are in the process of obtaining a permit. Their family members are a target group as well. Over the course of 180 hours (two modules – lasting 60 and 120 hours) the programme provides participants with basic communication skills in the Slovenian language and with basic information about the history, culture and legal framework of the Republic of Slovenia. The programme focuses on practical knowledge for the workplace, information on social and health security, education, economics, public life in Slovenia, media, social life, environment, etc. Early integration of immigrants is funded from national and European sources and is free of charge for participants.

Provision to achieve a recognised qualification during adulthood

Adults can obtain all levels of formal educational qualifications. They can enrol in basic and upper secondary schools as well as – part time – in all tertiary education programs.

Basic school education

Adults who had not previously successfully completed basic school education can enrol in the basic school programme for adults (.pdf, sl). The curriculum was approved in 2003 by both the Council of expert of the Republic of Slovenia for adult education (sl) and the Council of experts of the Republic of Slovenia for general education (sl). It is based on the regular basic school curriculum for children, but it can be implemented in various forms, such as classic school lessons, guided self-education, course-based exam system, etc. From the sixth grade on the curriculum includes electives, usually implemented in project form. The duration of individual programmes depends on what stage of basic school the adult in question had previously completed. The total duration of the program (all nine grades) is 2,241 hours that are distributed as follows:

The number of hours is slightly increased in programmes offered in the nationally mixed border areas (i.e. where Italian or Hungarian ethnic minority reside, and official language of instruction can be also Italian or the provision is bilingual – in Slovenian and Hungarian language).

Acquiring basic school education is a legally guaranteed right and is free of charge at any age. In the 2014/15 school year, 174 individuals successfully completed the basic school programme for adults. Completion leads to the issuing of a formal certificate that is equivalent to those obtained in regular basic schools.

Upper secondary education

Any adults who wish to complete upper secondary education may enrol in regular upper secondary education programmes with special organisational adjustments for adults. These programmes are primarily provided by upper secondary schools with adult education units, whereas specialized adult education organisations account for less than half of all enrolments. According to the data SURS, there were just over 20.000 adults enrolled in upper secondary adult education programmes in the school year 2015/2016, and the distribution of participants across providers was as follows:

• adult education units at schools: 7,533
• folk high schools: 2,762
• other specialized adult education institutions: 2,266
• parts of enterprises: 302
• other providers: 464

Adults can enrol in upper secondary education programmes if they fulfil the requirements regarding previous education or any formally adopted special conditions for enrolment (such as specific talents or physical capabilities, if they are needed for a specific occupation or craft).

The following programmes are available to adults:

• short upper secondary vocational education
• upper secondary vocational education
• upper secondary technical education, and
• upper secondary general education.

With the exception of two programmes (to become a professional Driver or a Police Officer), these education programmes are not specifically designed for adults. However, schools and adult education organizations have to follow the relevant instructions on the adjustment of part-time upper secondary vocational and technical education (sl), adopted by the Minister of education in 2008. These Instructions define the adjustment of the organization of the delivery, school year/week/day and the adjustment of pedagogic documentation.

Tertiary education

Adults can enrol in short-cycle higher vocational, first cycle professional, first cycle academic and second cycle/Master studies.

In the Adult Education Master Plan short-cycle higher vocational study programmes are included due to increased needs for qualified people in these level of education, what means that the opportunities to co-finance these programmes from public funds are increased.

Short-cycle higher vocational programmes differ from other tertiary education programmes in their strong practical orientation – as much as 40% (800 hours) of every programme is undertaken in the form of on-the-job training. The two-year programmes are based on vocational standards formulated by business chambers or relevant ministries and confirmed by the Minister of Labour. These standards define the typical tasks of individual vocations and their level of difficulty. The programmes cover a broad range of vocations, for example photography; geotechnology and mining; tourism and hospitality; forestry and hunting; horticulture; media production; business administration; telecommunication; wellness; and engineering. The accreditation of short-cycle higher vocational programmes is undertaken by the Council of Experts for Vocational and Technical Education.

Adults can also enrol in all other tertiary education programmes as part-time students, provided they fulfil the general enrolment requirements of individual educational institutions.

Master craftsman, retail manager and foreman exams

Adults who have completed vocational upper secondary education and have at least three years of work experience can take master craftsman, retail manager or foreman exams. They can take these exams independently or upon completion of preparatory courses offered by different course providers.

The exam comprises four parts: a practical part, a theoretical part, a business part and an educational part. By successfully passing the master craftsman, the retail manager or the foreman exam, the candidate completes upper secondary education and may proceed upon completion of bridging exams to tertiary education. Alternatively, the candidate can continue his or her career in the chosen occupation. The educational part of the exam provides the candidate with skills to teach apprentices.

Master craftsman, retail manager and foreman exams are taken at the relevant chamber.

Provision targeting the transition to the labour market

Adult education and training targeting the transition to the labour market is organised within the broader framework of Active Labour Market Policy (APZ), which is under the authority of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. The primary target groups are those registered as unemployed; employees at risk of being made redundant; and final-year tertiary education students. In 2016, there were 20,400 unemployed persons included in the APZ programmes or 11% less compared to 2015. In 2016, no unemployed person joined the APZ programme, and 15,017 persons in the APZ programme got a job.

Employment Service offers access to several programmes(sl) targeting registered unemployed jobseekers (details below). Those who take part in these programmes – following a consultation with their counsellors and the formulation of a jobseekers' action plan – conclude formal agreements with Employment Service and are subsequently entitled to financial compensation for their participation and the associated travel cost.

"On the job" training for young adults (Delovni preizkus za mlade) programme targets unemployed jobseekers below the age of 30. The aim of the programme is to improve young jobseekers' employment prospects by enabling them to test and strengthen their knowledge and skills at a real workplace; become familiar with working procedures and concrete tasks; and meet new people. The programme is carried out under the supervision of a mentor provided by the employer. Participants receive a refund of their travel cost and compensation in the amount of 3 EUR per working hour (reduced to 1.50 EUR in case the participant is a recipient of unemployment benefits). The duration of this programme is from the minimum of 100 hours up to one month of full-time work.

Practical training (Institucionalno usposabljanje) programmes target unemployed jobseekers that lack work experience or have a vocation that is not sought after in the labour market. Programmes are carried out as courses, lectures, seminars and other short forms of training. They cover various concrete tasks and skills that could be useful at a workplace, such as: language and computer skills; handling different types of appliances and machinery; masonry; accounting, bookkeeping, blind typing; and entrepreneurship. Participants receive a refund of their travel cost and compensation in the amount of 1.1 EUR per hour of participation (for programmes that least at least 100 hours).

Preparation for National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) (Priprave na nacionalne poklicne kvalifikacije) is open to all unemployed jobseekers. It enhances participants' employment prospects by providing them with knowledge and skills required for specific vocations that are sought after in the labour market. NVQ is a part of the national qualification framework and is a formally recognised work-related qualification (but not a formal degree of education). The NVQ certificate proves that the holder is competent in a specific vocation or in specific tasks. The Employment Service offers preparatory courses for various NVQs, such as: cook's assistant, baker of traditional bread and pastries, website producer and website designer, masseur, tourist information provider, real-estate agent, to name but a few. Participants receive a refund of their travel cost and compensation in the amount of 1.1 EUR per hour of participation (for programmes that last at least 100 hours). Upon a successful completion of the final examination, participants are also entitled to a refund for the cost of the NVQ examination and for the medical examination involved in the process.

Project learning for young adults (Projektno učenje za mlajše odrasle) programme is aimed at NEET young adults (aged from 15 to 26) who have not completed basic or upper secondary education. It is described in more detail under the Provision to Raise Achievement in Basic Skills. When the programme is undertaken by registered jobseekers, the Employment Service provides a refund for travel costs and 1.10 EUR per hour of participation.

Formal education (Formalno izobraževanje) programmes that participants enrol into upon agreement with the Employment Service cover basic education. The general features of these programmes are described under the Provision to Achieve a Recognised Qualification during Adulthood. Registered unemployed jobseekers who enrol in basic and lower secondary education programmes are entitled to a refund of travel cost and 6 EUR per day of active participation in the programme.

In 2016, 390 persons started the programmes of non-formal education and training (vulnerable target groups), and 333 persons the programmes of Non-formal education and training for the young, as well as 804 applied for the National vocational qualification – validation.

Furthermore, 588 people started the programmes of continuous education and training for the unemployed persons aimed to improve and expand the existing knowledge and skills or competence.

The programmes of on-the-job training had 3,708 unemployed who joined in to develop own employment plan and test the knowledge, skills on the real job. (620 in the programme work-based testing, 1,340 On-the-job training, and 1,748 the programme Zmorem, ker znam (I can, because I know how).

In 2016, there were 323 persons included in the programme of formal education pursued at schools registered at the Ministry and state-funded. (Annual report on the implementation of national measures in labour market 2016).

Provision of liberal (popular) adult education

Two forms of liberal/popular education programmes have been continuously receiving public funding, namely study circles and centres for independent learning.

Study circles are organized in the form of small groups of five to 12 participants (including specially trained mentors) who are dedicated to independent informal learning. They meet at least five times, for at least 25 hours in total, but there are typically more than 10 meetings per circle and the average number of hours is over 35. Among the main principles of operation are active participation; cooperation; creativity; equality and democracy; building upon the experience of members and groups; continuity and planning of work; and free choice of goals. Mentors are there to provide organizational support, prepare provisional study plans and motivate members, but members themselves have the ultimate decision-making power regarding the content and the organization of the program. Accordingly, study circles revolve around different topics, and they range from reading and language learning groups to ethnology, personal growth, healthy lifestyle, handicrafts, intercultural exchange, ecology and gardening, etc. Activities are rounded up with a lecture, an exhibition, a literary evening, a performance, a brochure or another type of output, depending on the subject of the study circle. The democratic exchange of knowledge, skills and experience enhances intellectual growth, strengthens interpersonal connections and contributes to a higher quality of life. This form of non-formal learning was introduced in Slovenia in 1990s under the auspices of the Slovenian Institute for Adult Education. The Institute remains the national coordinator of study circles, whereas concrete activities are hosted by various organisations including folk high schools, non-profit associations, libraries and private companies. In 2015, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport is funding 274 study circles provided by 80 organisations across the country.

Centres for independent learning (Središča za samostojno učenje) facilitate a complementary form of non-formal learning, by providing free-of-charge space, learning materials and equipment for participants to gain and upgrade their knowledge in different fields. They target adults that cannot access traditional forms of education or find them unsuitable for their needs. Two commonly studied subject matters are computer skills and foreign languages. Learning is undertaken independently, with the guidance and support of professional staff and with the help of various textbooks, handbooks, dictionaries, multimedia and other learning materials adapted for independent learning. Centres for independent learning were developed by the Slovenian Institute for Adult Education following the British “open learning” example, and they started operating in 1995. They are dispersed across the country and located within folk high schools, libraries, privately owned adult education organizations and non-profit institutes. In 2015, 35 such centres are being funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.

Learning exchanges (Borze znanja) are information centres which provide details of those who are looking for knowledge and those who have knowledge to offer. Everybody can take part in the learning exchange. There is no need for certificates to enter. The wish to complement, update and extend one’s knowledge suffices, or the wish to offer knowledge to others, or to meet people interested in the same topics. The exchange itself operates free of charge and does not decide on how the transfer of knowledge will occur. The employee of the exchange tries to meet their needs through the computer supported data. The first learning exchange was activated in 1992 in Ljubljana. After the experimental phase the exchange moved to the Oton Župančič Library in 1993. When other learning exchanges in Slovenia were established the one in Ljubljana undertook the co-ordinative role among them. 11 learning exchanges were active in 2014.

Other types of publicly subsidised provision for adult learners

All types of publicly subsidised provision of adult education and training are described under other sub-headings.