Prime Minister Golob: "Changes are meant to improve the system"

Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič and Minister of Education Vinko Logaj were also present at the meeting. The attendees included representatives of key education stakeholders.

In his opening address, Prime Minister Golob said that the consultation meeting was being held at the best possible time, as the salary negotiations had been concluded and the discussion could move forward: "The education system is undergoing changes, and it is right that the stakeholders are aware of these changes and in some way in agreement about them." He added that the frameworks for the coming years were being established. "I understand that many discussions have already been held about both the Education Act and the education system in general. Today, the ministers and I will again listen to you so that we can establish where we are with regard to the changes and whether we have a sufficiently wide consensus," he said, and stressed the importance of a constructive dialogue between the Government and education stakeholders.

"The education system is too big to start implementing changes with antagonism. This is not our intention. Changes are meant to improve the system," concluded the Prime Minster.

Minister of Education Vinko Logaj presented the most important changes to be introduced by the new amendments to the Organisation and Financing of Education Act, which provide for the development and higher quality of education in Slovenia.

Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič pointed out that in order to ensure stable, flexible and development-oriented education, it is essential to design development programmes and projects that are not only an investment in the future of individual people but that also contribute to the competitive position of the country and the strengthening of social values.