Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Slovenia, the responsibility for financing education is shared between central and local government entities, with clear delineations outlined in the Organisation and Financing of Education Act. The Ministry of Education is the primary central authority responsible for drafting financial plans, setting funding criteria, and overseeing the allocation of budgets across all levels of education, from pre-primary to tertiary. The Ministry of Finance plays a complementary role by ensuring the implementation of adopted budgets across ministries, including the education sector. Additionally, the Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia supervises public expenditure in education, while school inspections monitor earmarked spending at the institutional level.
The primary financing mechanism in Slovenia follows a mixed model combining central oversight with decentralised execution. For basic education, funding is determined through standardised activity-based calculations, where the Ministry of Education defines per-student or per-programme costs, and municipalities distribute resources accordingly. In upper secondary education, a lump-sum (integral) funding approach is used, where institutions receive block grants based on enrolment numbers and performance agreements. Funds are transferred from the central government to schools either directly (e.g., teacher salaries paid by the Ministry) or indirectly via municipalities, which then allocate them to local institutions.
In 2019, the OECD illustrated the flow of public funding to public primary and lower secondary educational institutions in Slovenia.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The allocation of resources to education subnational governments follows a structured and regulated mechanism designed to balance central oversight with local autonomy. The central government allocates funds to municipalities based on standardised criteria and norms set by the Ministry of Education. These criteria include factors such as the number of enrolled students, the types of educational programmes offered, and the schools' operational needs. Municipalities then distribute these funds to individual institutions, covering costs like teacher salaries (which are partially co-financed by the state), non-teaching staff wages, maintenance, and other operational expenses. The central government ensures equity by providing additional support to municipalities with fewer fiscal resources or higher needs, such as those in rural or disadvantaged areas.
Article 142 of the Constitution states that municipalities are financed from their own resources. In the case of an economically less developed municipality that is not able to fully perform its functions, the State will provide it with additional financial resources. This financing mechanism is described in the Municipal Financing Act.
The financing of municipalities is determined based on calculations of “adequate spending,” estimated with an equation that takes into account the population demographic, geographic location, and development criteria. If the share of municipal income is not enough to cover the amount determine necessary to cover the costs in the municipality, the central government will give the necessary funds as an equalization transfer.
The Organisation and Financing of Education Act (1996)
The 1996 Organisation and Financing of Education Act includes per-student allocations and lump-sum grants, both of which take equity into account. Per-student funding is key in basic and upper secondary education and is adjusted for factors like student demographics, school size, location, and programme-specific requirements. The formula for allocating funds combines objective metrics (e.g., student numbers, programme costs) with equity-driven adjustments (e.g., compensatory funding for disadvantaged regions). Municipalities and schools must adhere to strict reporting requirements, and the Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia oversees compliance to prevent misuse of funds.
2. Education resources to schools
The allocation of resources to schools follows a centralized framework with decentralized implementation, in which the Ministry of Education provides core funds for salaries and programmes through equity-adjusted per-student formulas. At the same time, municipalities cover operational costs such as buildings and non-teaching staff. Additional grants support specific needs, such as textbooks, meals, and transportation, for low-income students.
Under the Organization and Financing of Education Act (1996), the government also provide funding to schools for the education of students with special needs, development and supporting activities, ICT, libraries, textbook subsidies, meal subsidies, out-of-school activities, the education of Roma learners, Slovenian language lessons for foreigners in basic schools, mother-tongue lessons for foreigners in basic schools, and the transportation of learners.
Since 2000, Slovenia’s inclusive education system for students with special educational needs (SEN) has been guided by key regulations, including the 2011 Placement of Children with Special Needs Act and the 2017 Act on Integrated Early Treatment of Preschool Children with Special Needs. Equity is central: the national government and municipalities jointly fund tailored resources and support, ensuring no student is disadvantaged due to disability or background. Support is allocated case by case, coordinated by official placement commissions and the National Education Institute, with the overall aim of providing high-quality, accessible education within mainstream schools for all children.
3. Education resources to students and families
Public and private schools may not charge students any fees except for items specified by law, including contributions towards meals and material costs. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport may make payments on behalf of learners unable to pay due to their social situation.
The Ministry of Education, which provides educational resources to students and families, fully funds boarding costs for students who study away from home. Residence halls are mainly required for pupils with special needs who attend adapted basic school programmes. Additionally, the government also subsidises the boarding cost for parents with more than one student simultaneously boarding in a dormitory. The 2018 Rules on Residence in Student Dormitories regulate current subsidies.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Child Benefit, managed by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities, provides financial support to parents or legal guardians of children up to 18 years living in Slovenia. Established in 2012 under the Public Finance Balance Act, the benefit helps with a child’s maintenance, upbringing, and education. Applications are submitted at the local Social Work Centre. Eligibility is based on family income and assets, measured against the average national wage from the previous year. The benefit amount varies by family member's income and is granted for up to 1 year, requiring renewal if conditions persist; it stops once eligibility ends.
Scholarships
According to the 2013 Scholarship Act, all students who received benefits due to their family income are eligible for a government scholarship for upper secondary school studies. To receive a state scholarship, the family household income of a recipient must be less than EUR 1,293.36 (as of March 2025). Government scholarships are between EUR 35 and 400 per month. The scholarship benefits include those based on study results or performance; benefits for education away from home; and benefits for scholarship recipients with special needs.
Students also have the opportunity to apply for the government-funded Zois scholarship, which is merit-based. Recipients must demonstrate at least one appropriate outstanding achievement and achieve the required academic performance. Secondary school students may receive EUR 150.96 if they are studying domestically. They may receive additions of EUR 100.64 for accommodation and EUR 62.90 for students with special needs (amounts are as of March 2025).
5. School meal programmes
Slovenia operates a school meal programme comprising the EU-supported School Scheme, which provides in-school snacks like fruits, vegetables, and dairy, and a broader national School Meals Programme offering school lunches. These meals are fully or partially funded based on the average family income. The EU funds about 77% of the School Scheme, with the Slovenian government covering the rest. Meals are fully covered for students from lower-income families, while participation is voluntary and determined by individual schools. Slovenia plans to provide free school meals to all primary pupils starting in September 2027, moving toward universal coverage. The programme targets nutritional goals such as obesity prevention and integrates nutrition education.
This profile was reviewed by Dr. Tadej Košmerl, Assistant Professor of Adult Education at the Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana.
